Hello again, sorry I upload chapters so late, I don't get much time during the day. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Too Close
"You're late," Allistor said dryly, eyeing the clock that read 11:05 a.m..
"I was...distracted," Arthur replied, cold and annoyed on Francis' door step. Allistor was late to everything, and by much more than five minutes. The only reason he was giving Arthur shit was because he saw an opportunity (though small) to be an arrogant prick for no reason.
"What distracted you dear brother?" Allistor asked with mock concern for anything other than wasting time.
"A neighbor, will you let me in now?" Arthur huffed, trying to push past Allistor. His aggression landed him on the floor as Allistor shoved him back roughly.
Thankfully, before a fight could break out, Francis appeared behind Allistor and said, "Now now boys, no need to fight." He walked cheerfully past Arthur, dragging Allistor by the arm to Arthur's car. He turned expectantly to Arthur and said," Are you coming or giving me the keys."
Arthur strode over to Francis and remarked, "You don't seem hungover."
"Aspirin dear Arthur," Francis said before ushering Arthur to unlock the car. Arthur did just that, making sure Francis got in the front before proceeding to get in himself and start the car. Once situated Francis asked, "Where are we going?"
My house," Arthur responded quickly before speeding off.
"Find anything yet?" Francis asked boredly, sprawled on the couch in Arthur's living room.
"Yes I think so, look at this," Arthur said excitedly, holding his black magic book up for Francis and Allistor to see. "It's the demon of fear."
"Doesn't a demon of fear get people to commit suicide by scaring them or something?" Allistor asked, flicking his cigar bud onto the carpet and lighting another one.
"Yes, it shows them their darkest fear in a most horrendous and extreme fashion, praying on its victim's weakness. The demon puts them in a trance and makes them believe that the only escape is death," Arthur elaborated.
"Well then it can't be the demon of fear then,can it? Allistor stated.
"I beg your pardon?" Arthur asked, raising one of his bushy eyebrows in confusion.
"Demons of fear make people kill themselves, Lovino was stabbed. Stabbed in a way that it could only be murder," Allistor replied.
"Yes well, the more powerful demons of fear require a sacrifice to release it and a sacrifice to put it back. Lovino was obviously the sacrifice to release it from hell!"
"If it even was a demon," Francis muttered, yawning and checking his phone for the 100th time.
"Arthur, only one person has died, and that is Lovino, who was murdered," Alliator explained.
E"That's not true. Alfred called me this morning, said that Kiku had died of a heart attack. The look on his face was contorted as ifhe was terrified," Arthur responded. Both Francis and Allistor looked up, completely shocked. "What?"
"Are you telling me that Alfred called you about his dead friend and the first thing you thought about was demon hunting!?" Francis screamed.
"Yes! The sooner we catch this thing the fewer people will die!" Arthur shouted back.
"What about Alfred, the poor boy must be heart broken?" Francis said, clutching his chest as if just mentioning it brought actual pain to himself.
"Listen Francis, I feel for Alfred, I really do. What happened to Kiku was tragic, but not an accident. We have the power to stop this from happening to anyone else. I'm sorry if I'd rather do the right thing then comfort my friend," Arthur replied, softening his voice.
"You're unbelievable," Francis whispered as he stalked out of the house, slamming the door.
"Nice going Arthur," Allistor said, "The second you get him back you screw it up."
"Shut up, Allistor!" Arthur fumed, more mad at Francis than Allsitor. Alliator raised his hands in surrender before getting up and heading towards the hall. "Just where do you think you're going?"
"To the bathroom, if it's alright with his royal pissyness."
"Fuck you," Arthur replied, watching Allistor head down the hall. "And don't go in my room!" Arthur slumped into the couch and thought What have I done? I should have comforted Alfred, now none of them will talk to me ever again! His sulking was interrupted when he sat on something small and hard. Arthur got up and saw Francis had left his phone. Arthur silently cursed and picked it put, studying the design of the rose on the case. Out of curiosity, Arthur looked through Francis' phone (Francis had told him his password was 1799- the year the French Revolution ended) and saw that he had three missed texts, all from Allistor, all from today. Confused, Arthur decided to read them.
The first text from 11:15 said, "Hey where are you?"
The second text from 11:30 said, "Did Arthur show up and convince you to leave me or something?"
The third text from 12:00 said, "Whatever, tell Arthur I'm not helping him if he's just going to pull this shit. I'm surprised he got you in on it. Have fun on you're demon hunting date."
Arthur hands started shaking so badly he dropped the phone. Looking down the hall and seeing it empty, he decided to chance it. Getting up slowly, he walked to the front door. Each step was agony, feeling like a year in between each. When Arthur finally reached the door, it wouldn't open, no matter how violently he shook it. Suddenly his phone started buzzing and he yelped in suprise. Arthur looked at his phone and saw that it was Francis who was calling. He felt terror seize his body, and shakily lifted the phone to his ear and answered it, whispering, "Who are you?"
"Why brother, I'm exactly what you said I was," the voice came from both the phone and from right behind him. Arthur tried to chant a spell of protection, but a paralyzingly pain took over him as the temperature dropped over 30 degrees. Arthur cried out in pain as spots danced before his eyes. He felt a hand grip the back of his head right before it trust his face right into the door. Arthur dropped to the floor, blood gushing from his broken nose. He sputtered and gasped until he couldn't fight it anymore, and everything went dark.
This took me longer than I'd like to admit to come up with, but it's pretty interesting. I came up with it on the fly because I was getting bored of the lack of action and felt you guys were too. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.