The townsfolk gathered in closely together like a heard of cattle attempting to intimidate a lone wolf by appearing like a larger being. The children were pulled in close in the middle, though Damien kept fighting to try and see through the mass of people who were in his way. It wasn't normally allowed for him to see the Blue Devil as often as everyone else in town, his family was normally back home on the farm by the time he would ride into town each Wednesday. This was a golden opportunity he didn't want to miss out on, yet the women kept pushing him back. They gave surprised gasps as red beams of light shot out from the smoke, those red devil eyes of his robot beasts were scoping them out. No doubt trying to pick who had the best soul to take down to Hell.
Music suddenly erupted from the darkness as the outline of the Blue Devil was finally visible. Strapped to his demon fishes horse was a record player, though one the likes that nobody had seen before. It was much larger, and had multiple stereographs sticking out of it which pitched the noise of it even louder than normal. The song itself was unknown to them, loud, with a lot of guitars and the beating of an Indian's drum in the foreground. Then came the War cry of the red skinned people which, for the older generation of townsfolk, brought on memories of battles and war. Combined with the fact the Blue Devil himself was finally upon them, sitting atop his metal steed and staring at them all from beneath his wide brimmed hat made the situation even more terrifying.
He turned his head and nodded at the fish, who then lifted the pin on the music and it stopped dead. The only sound in the entire town was the cawing of those thirteen black crows, who continued fussing over the sheriff's office. Turning back to the towns folk the Blue Devil waited, quiet, as his Coyote Bots surrounded him, sniffing at the air, the ground, and edging closer to the group. Their intimidating jaws and eyes caused some women to whimper, and take as many steps back as possible. Only Roxanne stood out from the crowd, far enough away to be noticed but not so much to cause alarm to the townsfolk.
"My, my my." sighed the Blue Devil finally, tilting his hat back so he could get a proper look at everyone. "What a turn out." he chuckled as he tossed his poncho over his shoulder before leaping down from the horse. "And for little old me? Why. How kind." he smiled as he walked forwards, stopping in front of Mr. Jenkins and leaned in closer to him, and spoke quietly. "Your Sheriff is dead."
Despite it being whispered it felt as though he had screamed the words at the town. Roxanne turned her head to glance at the people, whose expressions wrenched at her heart. The Sheriff had been their guiding light, their protector and now he was gone. She quickly found Mr. Ashby's face in the crowd but the man was merely looking at Blue Devil with a forlorn expression on his face. She shuddered, her own heart aching at the death of a good man but still couldn't come to grips with the fact that the man who had gone out of his way to save her had just killed the Sheriff in cold blood. She looked back at him to see he was walking around the people slowly, his spurs clinking against the dirt as he walked.
"He didn't honor the agreement. Didn't he, Mr. Ashby?" he asked, locking eyes with the old Sheriff who only stared him down. Those green eyes that the old man had first seen all those years ago were so different now. No longer filled with innocence or fear. It had been replaced with anger, resentment, and jealousy. "You should have trained him better."
"He was the best." Mr. Ashby boldly replied.
"HE WAS A FOOL!" screamed the Blue Devil, "And you a bigger one for letting him become that smear on the gorge!" the Blue Devil suddenly turned his head as he heard a noise and before any of them could blink both of his guns were drawn and aimed straight at a young man who had tried to pull his own gun on the demon. The boys mother cried out and grabbed at his arms.
"Jonathan no, no he don't mean it, he don't mean it!" she begged the Blue Devil whose bizarre looking guns remained trained on the young man's head.
"You don't want to upset your mother. Mothers are important." Blue Devil whispered quietly to the boy, green eyes surprisingly calm despite the situation. "Put 'em down before I shoot you. Because the second your finger squeezes my dogs will rip you to pieces and everyone else."
Jonathan stared at the two barrels aimed at him, and he could feel the sweat running down his forehead and neck. Why had he done this? Staring at the reason now, he felt so foolish, so childish. Gun slinging wasn't for a boy his age yet knowing the Sheriff had died by this man's hands had filled him with such emotion his hand had moved before he'd even been aware of it. He very slowly lowered the gun, and his mother pulled him into her arms protectively, thanking the man in black for sparing her foolish son.
Blue Devil was about to move on but he froze, spotting a face amongst the crowd that somehow seemed... out of place. "You there." he said, pointing at the crowd. Roxanne tried to see who he was pointing at, but it was hard to tell from this angle. "No, you... yes, you. You. I recognize everyone's face here except yours. Who are you?" Roxanne didn't have to wonder who he was talking to when she finally spotted Hal Stewart's face moving slowly forwards through the crowd. "Hands up where I can see them." Blue Devil demanded, and Hal obeyed. The man looked terrified. "I don't know your face. Who are you, what are you doing here? Answer me!"
"H-Hal Stewart!" spluttered the red haired man, flinching as those weapons were drawn on him. "I jes' arrived today! M-my stage coach group was attacked, I was the only... only one ta get away 'n I found this place! I was almost outta water 'n everythin'!"
Blue Devil looked at him for a good, long time. For a moment it looked like he was about to shoot Hal right in the face for being a stranger to the town but he very slowly lowered the guns, but held them tightly in his grip. "Being new to town you must not know. I am the Blue Devil. I have killed the Sheriff of this town. It's mine now. If you want to keep your bodily fluids inside your body you'll stay out of my way. Put one wrong foot wronger still and I will put you in the ground. That goes for all of you!" continued the Devil as he began to return to walking around the group. "This is my town now. It's always been my town! Where's the mayor?" he suddenly asked, looking around, eyes scanning the crowd. "Bring me the mayor!"
Roxanne watched as one man, a clerk, hurried off and was closely followed by one of the Coyote Bots, ordered to do so in case he tried any funny business. Looking back at the man in black she suddenly strode forward, causing gasps of alarm and fear to echo in some of the people. She stopped besides him, eyes narrowed. "What do you intend to do to us? This town, these people?" she asked, almost out right demanding the answers.
Damien, meanwhile, finally managed to peek his head out from between his fellow townsfolk to get a good look at the man in black. To the boy he was a literal giant, despite being no taller than five foot something. The legend, the stories, everything he had heard about this man came rushing in and he wondered just how this blue man had gotten to this point in his life. Who had he stepped on, shot in the back, and double crossed to become such a frightening figure in the eyes of everyone in town? And Roxanne, he couldn't help but look to his future schoolmistress too. She was brave, for a woman, and he had thought his mother was brave the day she killed a rattler with a shovel out in the garden one morning. This, this was much bigger than a shovel and a rattler; this was her voice and the Blue Devil.
She saw the blue man's eyes light up with recognition at the sight of her, and he breathed in harshly before giving her a small smile. "I'm glad you asked. I'm glad at least one of you had the nerve to ask. I-ah! Mr. Mayor!" he pushed past Roxanne as a short, balding, fat man wearing a blue suit was being led through the crowd of people and followed by his clerk and circled by the Coyote Bot. "How was your day today, hm? Getting fatter off the land, charging your taxes and generally living in your high tower over there?" he gestured to the town hall, which was a fairly large sized building with a bell tower on top of it.
"Now listen here," started the Mayor, though it was obvious he was terrified. "This town ain't yours, it belongs to the people, for the people and-" he was silenced as Blue Devil pressed one of his guns to the man's forehead.
"It's mine." Blue Devil growled. "I'm taking over. Your services are no longer required. That fine thing over there," he jerked his head towards Roxanne, "Just asked what I intend to do. That's my plan. That's been my plan for years, ever since-"
"Since they all died." Mr. Ashby spoke up, which caused the Blue Devil to suddenly spin and swing one of his guns like a club at the older man. Mr. Ashby managed to swerve it just in time and grabbed the Blue Devil's wrist. The gun went off, and a sharp red light burst forth from the pistol and lit up the skies. The Crows took to flight again at the sight of it, but quickly resettled. The air was suddenly very tense, and at least ten of the Coyote Bots swarmed Mr. Ashby and their master, growling viciously. "This is what it's about isn't it?"
"Got nothing to do with it and you're showing how old and senile you are by bringing it up." growled Blue Devil.
"What...?" Roxanne asked.
"There used to be Injins." whispered Mrs. Doe, who had made her way to Roxanne as had some other women, as if hoping her bravery at confronting the man would spread to them. "Vicious savages who owned the land to the West. Filthy things the lot of them."
"What happened?" Roxanne asked quietly, watching as the old Sheriff and the man in black continued to glare at one another, silently daring the other to move first.
"He killed them all." said Mrs. Doe. "The night he first arrived here he was covered in their blood and screaming bloody murder. He done shoot 'n kill alla them, 'n proclaimed himself owner of the West land. That's when his attacks started ta happen." she explained quietly.
"Used to ride in, set things on fire, all manner of business." said another woman.
"Stole cattle, stole all sortsa things to settle in on the land. T'was horrible business." said an older woman. "He was so terrible back then. It's a wonder Mr. Ashby got any sorta agreement outta him..."
There was a sudden cry from the group which caused the women to look back, and saw that Mr. Ashby was on the ground, but he wasn't bleeding. Thankfully. "The old agreement is severed." Blue Devil hissed through his teeth before rounding back on the Mayor, taking a step towards the man. "I'm in charge now. Time to clear out your desk." he stopped and turned around to the group as he nodded his head to Minion who had remained on his horse all this time but he had pulled his own large looking pistol, and was aiming it at the crowd. Seeing the nod the fish replaced the gun and rode the large black horse past the other one, grabbing its reigns as he did.
"Now I'm not about to ask you all to start worshiping the Devil, renouncing God, or stop going to Church. You can all continue with your normal every day lives that you normal regular people do. Only know that this town is mine. You got disputes, you come to me. You got issues, you come to me. But if anyone tries to do harm against my demons or Minion you'll be in for a world of pain. Understood?"
There were sounds of agreement and nodding, and the Blue Devil actually backed away from them, as if expecting one of them to pull a gun on him despite all those Coyote Bots being around, ready to attack without mercy if anyone was foolish enough to pull one. He only turned around once reaching the town hall, and as the two metal horses were left standing outside he and the mechanical steam powered fish vanished inside and the door slammed shut behind them. Seconds later though the door opened again and the Blue Devil ran out to reach the Sheriff's office across the way. He grabbed the poster of himself and ripped it down, tossed it to the ground, before running back into city hall, once more slamming the door behind him.
It was hard to really focus on anyone at this point. Roxanne was aware the groups of people were in shock over what had just transpired before them. The Sheriff was dead, the Mayor had been replaced, and the Blue Devil was now living inside the City Hall. Some were whispering over the idea of burning the building down but then the Coyote Bots were there, growling savagely as if they could understand their words. Maybe they could? They were demons, after all, and who knew what else they were capable of. The actions of the dogs broke up the group quickly; the young children pulled into their mothers arms and carried home whilst the men left too; while one did try to kick one of the Coyote Bots he was suddenly set upon by at least two of them.
"This way," a voice said as a hand gripped Roxanne's arm and she was suddenly being pulled through the crowd. "Don't worry, it'll be fine, it'll be okay." reassured the voice though it was one she wasn't all together familiar with. Still, nice of the man who be that concerned for her to be taking her back... wait... no, away from the schoolhouse? Roxanne tugged at the grip but found it impossible to free herself. The person turned and she gasped to see that it was Hal.
"Mr. Stewart!" she cried, "What on Earth do you think you're doing?"
"Hey now calm down," Hal said in a voice that brought on nothing calm in herself at all. "It's gonna be fine. I know it's a frightful point, that freak takin' over but you'll be fine. Hal will keep you safe." he reassured her before reaching out with his free hand and brushed his filthy hand against her cheek. Roxanne shut her eyes and turned her head away before gritting her teeth at him.
"Let me go." Roxanne demanded, "Right now."
"No need bein' hysterical now." Hal's hand caressed her cheek now. "I know you're scared but you don't hafta be, not with me here." then he was moving into her, as if expecting her to fall into his arms all weepy and weak like but all he got instead was her free hand slapping him straight across the face. The full force of it surprised him, since she hardly looked the type, and his grip on her was lost.
"Don't you dare come near me again!" Roxanne said loudly, grabbing her skirts and spun around on the spot and stormed back out onto the Main Street. She wouldn't dare hang around to try and hear his excuse for his sudden thrusting upon her like that, it was downright dog like! No, no, that was an insult to dogs! Just as she was crossing the Main Street did a Coyote Bot suddenly approach her. Heart still pumping from the brief, though disturbing, and interaction with Hal she glared at the 'animal' who stared back at her. Then it leapt out, bit down at the edge of her skirt, and began to pull her towards the Town Hall. "What! No, don't you- ah!" she couldn't very well rip her dress now could she? So she accepted her fate of being taken to the Town Hall.
She hadn't been inside the Town Hall before. Once inside she was surprised to see how... well. Elegant it was. The floors were varnished wood, the walls cream and had multiple paintings and newspaper clippings framed and hanging there. She saw a map of the area up on the wall, their town outlined, and a skull with crossbones hovering over the West. There were seats to sit and wait for the Mayor to call you, as well as a desk where a receptionist no doubt sat during the day light hours... and when the Mayor was actually inside, in his office. Roxanne glanced up at some portraits on the wall of past Mayors, all of them fat, frumpy looking men with mustaches and thinning hair.
The Coyote Bot let her go and paused to scratch at its chin with its hind leg, the noise making her cringe. Roxanne glanced at the receptionists table and saw a sign reading 'Take a seat'. Normally one would, but seeing how there was nobody else in here waiting for service the young woman marched to the steps that no doubt lead upstairs to the second floor where the Mayor's office sat. The door was ajar and she pushed it open and stopped short, amazed at what she saw. Inside the walls were lined with book cases filled to the brim with books. They were covered by glass doors, protecting the books inside. Upon the floor was a giant bear skin rug, its maw open wide and snarling, as if ready to bite anyone who dare approach. Up above, hanging from the ceiling, was a chandelier not unlike those she had seen back home.
Then there were the windows, as tall as the walls were, and one opened so you could step out onto a verandah to look out over the town. This time, though, it was closed. Before it was a huge desk that looked terribly old but highly respectable. Sitting behind it, with his back to the desk, was the Blue Devil. Besides the desk she could see that he had removed poncho and jacket thus leaving him in only his shirt, vest and pants. Even his hat was off, revealing his huge blue head in all its majesty despite the high back of the chair. It was even larger than she had originally thought. In one of his hands that was barely visible thanks to the position he was sitting in she could see a round glass, full with something alcoholic if she were to guess from the red hue of the drink.
"Miss. Ritchi here to see you, Sir." Minion's voice made Roxanne jump and she spun, seeing the towering fish standing behind her. Had he been standing in the corner all the time after she walked in?
"Miss. Ritchi." the Blue Devil slowly spun around on the black leather chair, revealing himself. "We meet again."
She frowned at him, hands still gripping at her sides. "Blue Devil. How far you've come." she commented, glancing around the room. "So was this your plan all along, to take control of the city?"
"Yes." he replied before taking a slow sip of his drink. "Wine?" he asked.
"I don't drink." she replied.
"Good. Neither do I." Blue Devil set the glass down on the table and pushed it aside with his hand before leaning back in the leather chair and put his feet up onto the table, crossing them as he did.
"Are you going to tell me what happened out there?" Roxanne asked.
"Why would I?" he asked back, arching an eyebrow.
"You wouldn't want to keep things from the only life you've owned now do you?" she asked, arching one of her own back at him. This seemed to surprise him and he gave a small laugh, and placed his hands behind his large head and slipped his eyes shut a moment.
"Oh yes. Well you can hardly blame me for the untimely death of the town's hero now, it wasn't me who stayed on that train despite it going faster than it should and approaching the gorge. It was the Sheriff who remained on board, who didn't get off in time, and fell to his untimely death. Horrific, really. Black smoke everywhere." he lifted his hands to the air, wriggling his fingers as if giving a pantomime on how the explosion happened.
Roxanne swallowed. "Did he tell you why he came after you?"
"Yes. You." he replied bitterly, "But don't go feeling responsible for his death, Miss. Ritchi. Haven't you heard? It was the game we played. He would find a reason to ride out to meet me, since unlike him I honored the contract decided upon by myself and Mr. Ashby. I never came to town for any day but a Wednesday, to get my food. It was the beloved Sheriff who would feel I was responsible for some wrong doing and ride out to attack, and every time we would be evenly matched. He would return to the town, a hero despite not winning, and praised by all." Blue Devil snorted and looked aside. "Downright pathetic."
"...were you jealous, of him?" Roxanne heard herself ask though it had truly been meant to be thought comment instead of a spoken one.
Blue Devil looked at her, those green eyes wide with shock that she would ask him such a question. But he laughed, and slapped a hand on his knee. "You know I like you."
"Please don't." she sighed.
"No, no, I do." he stood up, not on the floor but the table, and looked down at her. "You're not afraid of me at all. Do you know how many people in this town aren't afraid of me? Now I need two fingers. Used to be just one, and then it was two, now it's two all over again." Blue Devil stared down at her before jumping off the table and landing before her, hands to his waist as he slowly began to walk around her. "Now, I saved your life. That means you're safe from me. I may be the bad guy but I do obey certain rules and regulations. You'll have nothing to fear from me, Minion, or anyone under my command."
"How thoughtful." Roxanne commented, watching him carefully. "Why?"
"I said. I like you." Blue Devil said. "Not often you meet a young woman as assertive. It's impressive. It's interesting. You... remind me of someone."
"Who?" she asked.
"Never you mind."
"...what are you?" Roxanne whispered, and she saw as he froze all over mid step and stared at her. Hadn't anybody asked him such a question before, or if they had, had he gunned them down to asking such a thing of him? She had so many questions she wanted to ask him. If he had indeed killed all the Indians that had been living in the West, where he now called home. If he'd killed half the men that people claimed he did. How was it that she got the feeling that he and Mr. Ashby knew more of each other than they were letting on? She had heard the statement the old man had made, outside. Somebody had died. The Indians? But the women said he had killed them. Unless the stories were wrong. What if it was all wrong?
Blue Devil glared at her before walking to desk and picked up the glass of wine and sniffed at it before taking a drink from it. "What am I?" he asked her in return, turning his head to look at her. Those green eyes were now emotionless, giving nothing away. No anger, remorse, pain, resentment, nothing. It was very eerie, and for the first time since she first saw him on Wednesday did she feel something like fear being near him.
"...when does your job start?" he asked.
"Pardon me?" Roxanne hadn't anticipated the subject change.
"Teaching the kids." he turned away and walked to the large windows and looked down at the town below. The street was deserted, and one could probably hear a pin drop. "That's why you're here, isn't it?"
"Yes. It is. I was. I was going to start Monday." Roxanne replied, "Being it a Monday and classes always start on a Monday but now..."
"Continue your plan. Just because I'm here doesn't mean it should no longer happen." Blue Devil cut her off, turning his head to look at her. "Education is important out here. I told you, to continue living the way you normally do. That includes... shool." he mispronounced the word as he looked out the window and reached up and pressed his hand to the glass. "You can go now."
Roxanne opened her mouth to protest, but Minion easily took hold of her arm and easily guided her outside to the entrance area. The feel of the metal hand on her made her freeze up momentarily, before glaring up at the fish who was staring ahead. "You know it's not right for him to waltz in here and declare himself the boss." she said.
The fish shrugged before reaching the main door and pulled it open. "Hope your classes go well, Miss. Ritchi." the fish told her before closing the door behind her. Filled with the feeling of being treated rudely Roxanne turned and tried to open the door again, only to find it locked. Shocked, she gasped, and then frowned at the doors angrily. Remembering suddenly, that there was a stranger around who had taken a liking to her, she spun around and tried to spot him. She wouldn't put it past him to be watching her; he just gave that disturbing vibe you had when meeting some people. Judging by the looks of it, many people had retreated to the safety of the safety of the saloon, no doubts wallowing in their sorrow.
Striding over she walked in and sure enough, more than half the towns people were inside, sitting around the tables, but there were no cards being played... or anything along those lines. The air felt heavy and depressing, and she almost strained by the emotional thickness to the air. She stood in the doorway a moment before taking a sigh, and walked on through.
High above the town, standing in the windows, was Blue Devil. He had watched the figure of Roxanne Ritchi cross the street with purpose to the saloon and head on in. Holding the glass tightly in his grip he trailed his free hands finger around the rim of the glass, filling the air with a thin, high pitched noise. Minion, standing near the desk, winced at the noise and wish he would stop doing that. But it wasn't his place to tell him off, today was a good day, a great day. Sheriff Scott was finally gone, the town was theirs, and everyone was as scared of them as they should be. Save for Mr. Ashby and Roxanne Ritchi, but you couldn't win them all now could you?
"Beautiful isn't it?" Blue Devil suddenly spoke, in particular when he saw the last of Roxanne vanish into the saloon. "I've never had a view before... or windows..." he whispered more to himself as he lifted his hand and pressed the black leather gloved hand to the glass. "Win... dow..." he echoed the word again. He ran the hand along the glass and smiled faintly at the squeaking noise before setting the glass down on his table again but returned to the window, pressing both hands to it. "The town, Minion. It's finally mine."
"Yes, Sir." Minion smiled at his boss as he walked up to stand besides him and over looked the town in the setting sun. Long shadows fell over the buildings and main road, being contorted by the dying sun. It was beautiful in its own special kind of way.
"If. If my parents and family could see me now." Blue Devil whispered quietly, lifting his gaze to the skies above that were beginning to darken in color, welcoming the night and the shining stars with it. "Do you think they'd be proud of me?"
"Very proud, Sir." replied Minion firmly, nodding his little body in the water. "I know I am."
The blue man laughed and leaned closer still and pressed his forehead against the cool glass. "...still won't fix anything. In the end." he mumbled as his eyes slid shut and he let out a deep sigh that fogged up the glass, leaving a perfect imprint of his hands and forehead that had remained pressed to the glass. "But...!" he pulled back and grinned to himself. "Mr. Goody Two Shoes is out of the way, finally. After all these years, he's finally gone! Oh Minion, did you think this day would ever come?"
"Never. No, never. Not in a million..." Minion trailed off and saw the look that his boss was giving him and gave a cheeky, embarrassed grin with his rows of pointy teeth. "Yes, I did."
Blue Devil laughed and punched his friend in the mechanical arm, regretting it immediately after and shook his hand painfully. "Well. Let's check out our new commode, shall we?" he asked as he grabbed the glass of wine again and began to walk from the office.
"We shall!" Minion grinned as he hurried on after his boss before suddenly jarring to a stop. "Oh. Uh. Sir? Malfunction."
"Again?" asked the blue man as he walked over and pressed his hand to one of the components on his companions back and jumped away suddenly, yelping, since it felt like he had just shoved his hand into a fire. "Ah! You're over heating!" he said in an almost panic-stricken way. Rushing to the table he once again placed his glass down and grabbed the white crystal jug that sat on a tray that was full of water. Grabbing that, and a material placemat, he returned to his friend and quickly unscrewed a cap on a cylinder that was fixed to his back. "Hold on, hold on..." Blue Devil tilted his head away as he began to pour the whole contents of the water into the canister. Steam erupted from multiple points on Minion's back, some of it getting on the Blue Devil no hard he tried. Quickly re-screwing the cap he set the jug down before pulling a small device from a back pocket. It was a small wrench. He began tightening up some loose nuts and bolts, muttering as he did. "I think I'm going to have to re-work your entire design Minion, this is happening far too often..."
"I know Sir. There was a lot happening today I didn't want to bother you." the fish replied as he peered down his back at his boss who continued working on his suit.
"Try moving now." Blue Devil said as he stood back and wiped his forearm against his massive forehead. He watched as Minion very slowly moved his arm, then other arm, and finally his legs. "Excellent. Now, before we were so rudely interrupted... tour?" he asked, grinning as he headed for the door once again, glancing over his shoulder to his one and only true friend and companion.
"Tour." Minion smiled happily and the two outlaws dashed out like a pair of excited children into the City Hall to explore each and every room.
They got to see where the indoor toilet was (how fancy!), the bedrooms (so elegant and fancy pantsy!) and the trophy room that had every decoration that somebody within the town would win in any upcoming events. There were brown and white photographs on display as well, along with portraits and paintings. Minion was observing one of a river flowing when he paused and spotted that his boss had stayed a few paces behind him, staring at one painting in particular that he hadn't really stopped to look at. Backtracking, he stopped and saw what the painting was. It was of a group of Indians sitting by a fireplace, their earth houses behind them, and it looked like one of the older women were telling a story to the younger ones. Blue Devil stood there, staring at the painting, a wistful expression on his face.
"...when pyre and body had been consumed, they buried the ashes of Thoshipa in the sand and left the place, migrating south of the Mohave, where they made their home on the bank of Havil." grandmother said, settling back in her seat by the fire.
Around her, four children no older than five years each stared at her, having just learned the story of how things came to be. How Mother Earth and Father Sky had two children who created the land, the oceans, rivers, and people along with all manner of creatures both feathered and not. "Now my children, it is time for you to go to sleep." she added, to which three of them began to complain but were soon ushered away. As she stood up she paused and realized one had remained behind. "Blue Sky, why are you not back in bed?" she asked.
The little boy, eyes green and round and skin a brilliant blue, blinked and looked up at the grandmother. In his lap a tiny ball holding his fish, who he had named Minion. "Grandmother," he spoke quietly, "Who made me?"
"Hm?" she asked.
"I. I am different." Blue Sky whispered as he glanced around their family group, watching his friends being gathered up by their parents and being taken to their earth houses. They were basically domed homes made of dirt, sand, glass, mud, anything that would keep it up. News was though that they were moving a little more Northern to a home built into the rock face of the mountains near by; but it took a lot of effort to move a whole group of people. It took planning and while everyone was excited, Blue Sky was scared of the move. "I... I am blue. Not red. I do not think Thoshipa or Kokomat made me or my people."
"Blue Sky," grandmother moved to him and knelt down before him, and he could hear her bones creaking at the effort. "You are a gift to us from Father Sky. You are he and Mother Earth's special child. It is plain to see," she reached out and ran a thumb over his cheek. "You are blue like your father, and your eyes are as green as your mother can be. Just because you do not look like us does not make you a stranger to us."
Blue Sky frowned still. He was at that age when you began to really notice the differences in people. And how more obvious can you get, when your skin was as blue as the sky and your family all had skin like that of the earth beneath their feet? While he wasn't teased for it, the parents wouldn't allow it, he still felt left out of some things. He heard their folk tales, the stories of creation and the Gods, Father Sky and Mother Earth but it all felt like it wasn't really his to know, or to own. Lifting his gaze to the grandmother she could see the confusion in the boy's face. She gave a low chuckle and got up, taking one of his hands as she did so he stood besides her. "You are still part of our family. And we will always be here to protect you."
"I do not need protection." the stubborn child said as he puffed his chest out proudly, despite his uncertainty.
She laughed. "Of course not. But when you are older you will become a man, will take on a position in our family and make one for yourself. And we will be proud no matter what you do."
"Really?" Blue Sky asked, peering up at the old woman.
"Always." she said.
"Sir?" Minion's voice suddenly brought Blue Devil out of his painting educed memory and he shook his head. "Sir, are you all right?"
"Yes, of course I am!" Blue Devil snorted as he pushed against his large friends forearm. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm finally out of the West, I'm in the town and I'm in charge of it and they're all terrified of me! As they should be. Things are as they were supposed to be, Minion. And it's about time." as Minion began heading back down the hallway he let his green eyes quickly shift to the painting once more, resting on the image of what, one day, had been home. "About time." he mumbled before following after the fish. It had been a long day, a tiresome one at that. The death of the Sheriff was still a bright star in his life, an achievement he could be proud of. One he wouldalways be proud of. He couldn't let images of the past get in the way of achieving his dream today.
Otherwise, where would he be?
He bid goodnight to Minion and soon found himself alone in the elegant, highly decorated room of the mayor. The bed was a four poster made of red wood, the mattress soft and plumped with goose down as well as the feathers. Around him were pieces of furniture, a fancy writing desk, a set of drawers that held clothes that wouldn't fit him in a million years (they were massive, he could easily stand in just one leg of the mans trousers), and a cupboard on the wall that held many kinds of rifles. As he began to remove his own clothes, tossing them over the chair by the writing desk, Blue Devil happened to spot the body length mirror in the corner that he hadn't picked up on previously. Standing here now, in only his long black shirt and vest, he made his way over to it.
In his reflection he could see past him a portrait of the mayor back when he was younger, thinner, the way he had appeared the first time Blue Devil laid eyes upon him. He looked back at himself, blue, thin faced, and that large head. Sighing, he shrugged off his vest and tossed it with the rest of his clothes before finally unbuttoning his black shirt, revealing scars to his back and chest. Nobody grew up on the open plains of the West without sustaining some injuries, and he was no different to any others. There were even some bullet wounds, sustained years ago, but had obviously not caused serious injury with the blue man. Sighing to himself he grabbed the blanket of the bed and yanked it off entirely. Shaking it out he then laid it out upon the floor before quickly grabbing his two guns and placed them down on the floor besides it. It wasn't long (he had to use the inside rest room and wash his face and hands after) before he was getting down on top of the blanket, and wrapped it around himself tightly.
Blue Devil had no use for comfortable, fluffy beds like the type people used. A mattress? They were just far too uncomfortable for him. To a man who had grown up out in the elements with the people of the land, all he needed was something to wrap himself in and a floor and he could sleep. Rolling onto his side he shut his eyes, one of his hands resting permanently on one of the guns at his side, and was soon fast asleep.
~*~
"To Sheriff Scott. May God bless him."
All the people in the saloon lifted their glasses, save for one who was already drinking his down while sitting in the corner. Hal then spotted how everyone was holding theirs up and echoed their motions before going back to drinking the second he could do so without getting into any trouble. For him, it was impossible to be sad for a man he didn't know, or even see. From what he had heard the man was a pillar of strength, tall, handsome, impressive and a great shot. Hal was glad he was dead, since without him around things would be much easier.
"Still can't believe it." Mr. Jenkins said as he nursed his whiskey in his hands. "I always feared this day would come but... never thought I'd see it."
"Horrible, simply horrible." sighed Mrs. Doe, shaking her head.
"What a way to go." Jonathan said.
Bernard stood behind his bar, looking down at the drink in his hand. He said nothing. Meanwhile Mr. Ashby was nursing his own drink now, swishing it around within the glass. The man had been quiet since his altercation with the man in black, and whilst he wasn't hurt it seemed his pride was. That, or something far more important. Meanwhile the (now) ex-Mayor was sitting near the bar and looking absolutely furious.
"Fifty years my family's been watchin' this town and what happens? Demons had ta ride in on my time, mine! I'm gonna go down in history as the man who let a wanted fugitive take over his town! Probably drinkin' my wine and sleepin' in my bed, smokin' my cigars like he owns the place!" he fumed to anyone who would listen, and it seemed had one in the shape of his clerk and receptionist.
The young woman sighed, shaking her hand. "Horrible business, Sir."
"I still dun see why we can't ride on in there guns blazin' 'n shoot the man." said the clerk, to which the receptionist scoffed.
"What town have you been livin' in all yer life, Jeff?" she asked, narrowing an eye. "In case you ain't noticed, he happens ta have a whole dang army of monsters 'n demons lurkin' the streets now! We even go near the place with our guns ready they'll be on us like vultures on a dead lamb!" she even went so far as the smack him right in the arm with her fist, causing the young thin man to flinch and rub at the wounded arm.
"Ow, Maryanne, you don't hafta be so rough." grumbled Jeff.
"Seems I do." she replied flatly.
"Mr. Ashby?" Roxanne asked, as she approached the man who had settled himself at the far end of the bar, as if trying to remove himself from the congregation of people that were taking place around him. "Excuse me, Mr. Ashby?" she asked again when he didn't seem to stir.
"Hm?" he lifted his head and looked at her, before smiling faintly at her. "Why Miss. Ritchi... you doin' all right?" he asked.
"As well as I can." she replied as she pulled a stool closer to him and sat upon it, hands in her lap. "It really is a terrible business... And I can't help but shake the feeling that this is all of my doing."
"Your doin'?" Mr. Ashby asked, tilting his head faintly. "Now why in the world are you feelin' responsible fer what happened?"
Roxanne looked down at her hands and shrugged her shoulders simply. "I admitted some truths to the Sheriff last evening, and he got terribly angry when he learned about how I survived my tussle with the rattle snake and the cart."
"How... hm?" Mr. Ashby sat up more, looking at her now. "Ah. Yes... he tole' me 'bout that. Blue Devil saved yer life, yes?" he asked, keeping his voice hushed so nobody else could over hear the conversation. Roxanne nodded. "Thing is, Miss. Ritchi, don't you go feelin' bad or sorry for yourself on account of what happened ta Sheriff Scott. Point is, him 'n Blue Devil were always fightin' one another. It's been that way for years, though each time we were 'fraid that he'd meet his end... well. No man can live forever out here. Not even the best of them."
She nodded slowly and looked away, shutting her eyes as she exhaled. "Is that why he so badly wanted to know the truth?"
"I reckon. He had a way of sniffin' out false things. Like a dog that boy was..." Mr. Ashby trailed off, and smiled. "Hm. Just like a dog. Once he got his teeth in somethin' he wouldn't let go. That included Blue Devil. My word it did."
"Mr. Ashby, I heard some interesting things today." Roxanne started, "And I need some verification on some of the facts."
"Shoot." he replied before taking a sip of his drink.
She waited patiently for him to swallow before continuing. "When the Blue Devil came into town you met him head on. You asked him if it was all about when 'they' died and some women around town told me it was about a bunch of Indians. That he slaughtered them, before beginning his attacks upon the town. Now... did he kill them, and planned to kill everyone here, to take the land and make it his own? Or what?"
Mr. Ashby sat there, nursing his now empty glass. "Come with me." he said as he stood up and began making his way through the crowd. Roxanne was surprised by this, and quickly got up and hurried after him. Bernard watched the two leave, before retrieving both of their abandoned glasses in order to clean.
The air outside was sharp and biting, far more than she would have thought for this time of evening. But the sun was now gone, and she could see a single light on in the city hall, and she couldn't help but wonder how the man was settling if at all. Was he proud of himself? Happy? To have everyone gripped in a fist of fear? Or did he feel sorry for them, did he even feel compassion? The way she had seen him interact with that fish Minion, and his Coyote Bots... he seemed like an ordinary man. He spoke with a regular voice, he cast a shadow... he was just blue. And from somewhere not of here.
"Beautiful isn't it." Mr. Ashby said, and Roxanne turned to look at where he was staring. He was looking Westward, the tall mountain face stood in the distance, where the Blue Devil once called home. "That's where they lived for a while."
"They?" Roxanne asked quietly as the two began to walk down the street together. Around them, Coyote Bots were watching but not moving any closer. They were like guards on patrol, ready to pounce given the opportunity. "You mean the Indians?"
He nodded. "Peaceful folk, really... though, course, durin' the warin' years they were as rough as you could get. Horrible messy business the war. They were left with not much to work with but they managed, ya know? Livin' off the land, comin' into town now 'n then for help. Not much was given. Even with things changin' in America this town ain't changed that much. Both a blessin' 'n a curse." Mr. Ashby sighed as he lifted a hand and scratched the back of his neck.
"Mr. Ashby, what happened? They died. Was it Blue Devil who killed them all?" Roxanne asked. "Because... I've seen him, alone, with just him and his 'monsters'. They don't act any meaner than any regular type of animal and he himself well." she trailed off and gave a small shrug. "He doesn't appear to be as cruel and villainous as everyone has made him out to be and I have to wonder if most of the things about him are rumors and nothing more."
"You're a real smart lady, y'know that Miss. Ritchi?" Mr. Ashby asked, glancing at the woman and giving her a soft, fatherly smile as she blushed faintly at his compliment. "You're intuitive. You're curious. 'N like Sheriff Scott, you don't seem to wanna let go of this bone you've dug up fer yourself."
"I just want to know the truth." she replied, brushing a loose hair behind her ear.
He smiled and finally came to a stop, his eyes moving back to that of the West. Taking a deep sigh, he spoke finally. "'Bout fifteen years ago a gang came ridin' through. Now as I said, this area ain't changed much despite the world 'n America changing. They was smart, and they needed money. South of us were a town where they paid money for Indian scalps, still. Good money too. Bunch of savages." Mr. Ashby frowned, before continuing. "They got the jump on 'em from what I saw when I got out there to investigate. They put up a good fight, course they did, but what's done was done. Practically whole tribe wiped out in a night, scalps gone."
"How did you find out, did they ride through here?" Roxanne asked, feeling quite sickened by the fact that only fifteen years ago people were still doing such horrible and atrocious things. And to a whole family of Indians too, who from what she had gathered had done no harm to anyone since the wars.
"No, like I said. Smart. They kept goin', to go 'n collect their money."
"So how did you find out?" she pressed on.
"...he came to town." Mr. Ashby said gravely.
"Blue Devil." Roxanne confirmed.
Nodding, he continued. "He'd survived, somehow. Seems his appearance scared them good but didn' stop 'em shootin' him in the stomach. Poor skinny thing came stumblin' into town screamin' and bleedin' blood everywhere. I." he paused, and sighed. "I patched him up 'n hid him, so the townsfolk wouldn't do the same to him that they did to the Indians. I rode out there, hopin' to find a survivor but... no. They'd killed alla them. The women, the men, even the lil' kids. All that was left of em was that blue kid and his fish. But t'weren't nothin' we could do. The gang was already moved on 'n dispersed by the time I sent a posse South to apprehend 'em fer murder. That's when Blue Devil turned. He blamed the town fer their deaths, that if t hey weren't so hung up on whose land was whose then his family'd be alive."
"Family." Roxanne echoed.
"They dun raised him from a baby. Him 'n the fish." Mr. Ashby continued. "I still dun know where he proper came from but they called him their gift. Gift from Father Sky. His name used to be Blue Sky but well. You can see what it got changed to. It stuck. He started causin' trouble, wrattlin' cages, stealin' things..."
Roxanne fell silent as he continued, explaining how Blue Sky transformed into the Blue Devil, pillaging and causing havoc for the town. How he lorded over them, stealing goods from the town and started building his monsters and demons to back up the name he had made for himself. She tried to imagine what it would feel like, to have your entire family wiped out by a team of bandits before your eyes, only to have no justice done. They'd gotten away with genocide, not just murder, leaving a lone boy to pick up the pieces and look at what happened to him. He'd turned his back on the world out of anger and spite, and become something that may not have been meant to be.
"So that's it." Mr. Ashby said quietly. "Once he could walk 'gain he went back out there, 'n tended to the bodies in their ways. You could see the smoke for over a week..." he could clearly remember it. The white-grey smoke slowly trailing into the skies, each plume that being of a body being burned on a pyre and being over looked by the single remaining member of the family. Course, people in town believed it to be him opening up ways to Hell to access the souls of the Indians he had killed to house them in his monsters and beasts. All of them were too scared to even ride out to investigate, like he had, and if they had they would have seen the small boy wearing ceremonial clothes for a grown man looking even baggier on his thin, small frame, burning his family as was the way.
Course then Blue Devil had made him leave, not wanting him to watch. It wasn't a 'white mans' place to witness an Indian pyre burning, and he had been so angry and upset the Sheriff had done it out of respect. Now he wish he had stayed. The boy had needed somebody, back then. Somebody to hug him, to tell him things would be all right, but he hadn't. Why hadn't he? He didn't even know now, looking back upon it all.
"So he's been all alone, outside of the fish and his... hrm. Pets?" she glanced over her shoulder as a Coyote Bot crept a little closer but then turned and fled, when it saw her looking at it. "If that is what you can call them."
"Built everythin' himself. Course, most of the material came from trains he robbed, 'n places he'd raid fer metal. Oh he is a bad man, Miss. Ritchi. Don't go thinkin' otherwise. Just makes you think though, just what made him into it. Was it destiny? Chance? Fate? Or did he pick it fer himself, because it felt like the right thing to do? I don't know. I couldn't ask him such things, no one could. Not even you, I see that look in yer eyes. A man's history is his business, 'n I just let you know cuz you're a smart one. You deserve to know the truth."
"Did Sheriff Scott know the truth?" Roxanne asked. "When did he come into things here? Was it after the murder of the Indians, or before?
Mr. Ashby fell quiet at that question. He sighed, and looked at her. "That, lil' lady, is best left for another time. I will not besmirch the name of a man who died today. Just ain't the time." he turned and placed his hand to her back, moving her with him. The touch surprised her and she took in a startled breath. He didn't miss this, and looked at her. "You're a bit jumpy. Don't you worry, Miss. Ritchi. I'm a gentleman, 'n far too old fer that stuff."
"It's not that." she said, apprehensively.
"Somethin' troublin' you, Miss. Ritchi?" he asked, quite easily picking up on the distress in the woman's voice and how she was carrying herself.
"I'm a little concerned, is all." Roxanne replied.
"'Bout?" he asked.
"Mr. Stewart, the new comer." Roxanne explained. "Just. Something that he said today doesn't sit right with me. I remember him saying something about family one moment, then the next he said he had no family with him. And. He's been a little 'fresh' with me."
"Fresh..." Mr. Ashby didn't like that word at all, and his eyes narrowed. "He's been makin' moves on you already?"
"Only slight ones but from where I come from a gentleman doesn't simply touch a woman like that. It's unorthodox and terribly rude." Roxanne said, putting her hands together. "I can clearly see he's sweet on me but I have no interest in a man who... well. You've seen him. Doesn't he strike you as odd, too?"
"That he does." nodded Mr. Ashby as the two of them walked past the saloon, where there was some drunken singing going on. seemed drinking to Sheriff Scott had brought on a bit of a mourners party. "Tell you what. I'll keep my eye on him, 'n see if he's up to somethin' cuz to be honest I dun care much for the look of him either. So don't go worryin' your pretty little head, Miss. Ritchi. You got a schoolhouse ta run, 'n you can't let someone like Hal Stewart disrupt that. Or what's goin' on. Kids need ta learn."
"Funny. He said the same thing." Roxanne smiled faintly to herself, but also quietly. When Mr. Ashby asked if she said anything she shook her head for no. "You're right Mr. Ashby. Of course you are. I must go, though. I need my rest. We all do." she glanced back at the saloon, then Mr. Ashby. "Thank you for tellilng me all of this. I greatly appreciate it. It's certainly helped... put things into perspective."
"Happy to be of service. 'N it helps, ta finally get those things off me chest." he replied, nodding before stepping away from her. "You sleep well, Ms. Ritchi."
"You too Mr. Ashby." she smiled and turned and walked to the schoolhouse, full aware that the old man was watching her go. He was probably worried for her now because of what she had told him about Hal, or just maybe a little on edge like she was because of the glowing Coyote Bots that were still roaming the town's main street. But they were of no concern to her, she had no guns on her to speak of and the Blue Devil had told her they would never harm her. Roxanne was suddenly entertained by the notion of Hal trying to make those moves on her a second time in the presence of the mechanical canines and just what they'd do to him. The idea made her give off a small, bemused laugh before she stopped herself and returned to her house to sleep off the excitement, and sorrow, of the day.