The Demon of Echo Creek

Parks and Lack of Action

Marco followed Star as they walked down the street. He ignored all the looks that the general populace of Echo Creek were sending his way. "How far is the park again? You said it was walking distance, and that's it."

"It's just a few blocks away, Marco. Besides, anything is walking distance if you've got the time."

"Star, that is not a good way to think, you'll end up exhausting yourself before you get to your destination." Marco sighed. "At least it's not that far. So what is there that I can expect to be unique for Earth?"

Star looked ahead and thought for a while."Well there aren't going to be tortured souls constantly screaming. And I doubt you'll find many burning trees."

"Burning trees? Where did you get that idea? The most 'burning' natural feature of the underworld is the lava rivers and waterfalls. Maybe the terrain around those banks... Okay there's a lot of fire now that I think about it. But I'm glad to finally not have to hear the souls, always with the screaming! You'd think they'd get used to it after an eternity of torture!" Marco chuckled at the thought, a quiet underworld? Ha!

"Oi! Cutie!" A gruff, slurred voice spoke up behind the two. "Ditch that guy and come over here with a real man!"

Marco turned, face to face with a towering bald man who held a large bottle of whiskey in one hand. "Sir, she and I are both underage, but as a resident of the underworld, let me say this." Marco then grabbed him by the shirt and brought him roughly to his eye level. "I don't want to hear you call out to any girls like that ever again."

The man chuckled. "If they're on the clock-" Marco swiftly punched the man in the face, sending him sprawling. There were literal shadows swirling around him, warping in the rage that Marco showed.

"Listen here you bastard. Your kind are the kind I hate the most." He then crouched down next to the man and slapped a hand on the his forearm watching as the hand print burned itself into his skin. "I've heard that excuse from countless other pedophiles, this is my mark. You shall fear your own shadow till the day you die. If you so much as approach a girl with that intent ever again. I will appear before you and insure your eternal damnation myself. My shadows watch you." Marco stood up and walked over to Star. "Sorry, he had to be taken care of."

"You really don't like those kinds of people, don't you? You put the fear of god into him." Star smirked and put her arm on Marco's shoulder playfully.

"Well, I can't let them do that to anyone. I'm a demon, but have some standards man!" Marco practically yelled in the general direction of the pedophile. "Now then, shall we continue our trip to the park?"

"Yes, I believe we shall. I'm glad you were here though, no telling what would have happened had you not been there."

"Well I, for one, hope that someone would have helped you. But if we're going around the crowd that just watched I would say that wouldn't happen, cowards." Marco scowled as he watched every human around him avoid his glare.

"Relax Marco, you don't need to worry, everything's going to be okay. Now that you're here we can hang out some, just as friends." Star smiled at him, with as much sincerity as she could put behind it. "Now, I know what we can do after the park." Marco hummed, intrigued by her new proposition. "How about we get some lunch? I was thinking tacos, you?"

"I'm fine with whatever. Just so long as there's spicy stuff there." Star raised an eyebrow at this. "Hey, spicy food is good. Don't judge."

"Don't worry I won't. I agree with you, though that is a demon stereotype in this world, we don't get inter-dimensional demonic visitors that often."

Marco scoffed. "Figures, I just grew up with nothing but sweet stuff in my household. When I moved in with Tom I got a taste of spicy food and fell in love. Not my fault my parents obsess with being the sweetest demons in the underworld."

"Seriously? What are they, 'The Demons of Candy' or something?"

"Actually, yes. You'd be surprised how many types of demons there are. I was actually a fluke shadow demon. Oh hey, is that Janna?" Marco pointed over to a group of people and saw that Janna was surrounded by a bunch of rough looking guys. "Star, I may need to take care of some guys here too."

"Don't worry Marco, I understand. You going to move into Janna's shadow to appear next to her or what?"

"How'd you know that's how I travel so fast?"

"I saw you do it last week, when I dropped the brownies, you sort of... melted out of my shadow. I just figured that's how you travel quickly."

"Alright. Well wish me luck." Marco then stood behind Star, and melted into her shadow, then he slowly melted back out of Janna's, intimidating the men surrounding her. "Afternoon fellas! Mind if I ask what's going on here, especially why you're harassing my friend?"

Janna grabbed him by the arm, and leaned in to whisper to him. "Marco, no. This doesn't concern you."

"Janna, I'm afraid it does." Marco shrugged of her hand and put his own on her shoulder. "You're one of my friends and that means that I need to be here to help." He then turned to the guys surrounding them. "Now then, what's going on? I don't like repeating myself."

"Whatever kid. Her dad owes our boss a lot of money. That very man said she has his money. We're just here to collect." A man in the middle with a shaved head and tattoos on his cranium said.

"Loan sharks, I see." Marco looked around the group and noticed a familiar hand print on one of the men's forearms. "Oh hello! Man, you must be glad you- oh wait." Marco flicked his tail anxiously. "You did have the same intention as what I warned you about earlier. Ready to meet the eternal damnation that you were warned of?" As Marco said those last words a sinister smile crept across his face. That was when a group of shades surrounded the same pedophile from before and began grabbing him and dragging him into the shadows, with him screaming for mercy as he disappeared.

"Bastard! What did you do to Bruno?" Cue ball spoke back up. Marco nonchalantly looked over at him with his hands in his hoodie pockets.

"Bruno? Wow, his name even sounds like a pedophile's. He tried making a move on my friend, who like me and this girl here, is underage. Now then. I hope none of you want to violate this girl here. You will suffer a fate much like Bruno's." Marco then stood before the group, watching as they all nervously shuffled their feet back and forth, unsure of whether or not they should attack the boy.

"Kid, this is your last chance. I'll overlook Bruno, all you have to do is let us get the money this girl is supposed to have."

"No can do, Cue Ball." The bald man looked at Marco in shock. "I know that it isn't my last chance, because you are going to leave. I could brand you like I did Bruno, offering my unholy mark to those who wish harm upon those I know." He then walked over to baldy, and stared him in the eyes. "Now then, will you try and force the money out of her? Or will you run before I kick your asses?"

The man before him chuckled, smiling at Marco's bravery. "Kid, who are you?"

"Who am I? I am Marco Diaz, resident of the underworld, and currently I'm an exchange student here on Earth, so I'm also this neighborhood's resident shadow demon." Marco then turned to Janna. "Why don't you go over to Star, I'll handle these guys."

Janna opened her mouth to speak, but Marco pushed her away with his tail. "Marco, don't do anything too rash."

Marco chuckled, smiling at Janna. "Listen to you, worrying about a demon's safety." Marco then waved Janna off as he focused on the goons in front of him. "Now then. Who wants to swing first?"

"Kid, under normal circumstances I wouldn't believe you're a demon, but considering what you did to Bruno over there, I'll just say this. I want money from the girl is all. I'll let you be if you back down now."

Marco looked down and sighed. "You see, I can't do that. I may be a demon, but you're hurting one of my friends, and I can't have that a all." Marco crouched down, and got ready to fight. "Now start swinging." Marco carefully dodged as one of the goons charged from his left side. "Jeez, someone may think you were a bull." After several punches were thrown and missed Marco, he countered with two swift punches to the chest and face, followed by Marco pulling his feet out from under him with his tail. "You might want to watch your feet man. You don't look to stable." Marco then charged at a couple of others, knocking them to their backs and punching another in the face as he snuck up behind Marco. "Guys, you might want to actually try here."

"That's enough kid." Marco froze as he heard the familiar click of a revolver hammer being pulled back. "I doubt you want to die. So how about you just give me whatever cash you have on you right now, and I'll let you live."

Marco stood there, barrel pointed right at his face. His face was a blank slate at the moment, then he smiled. "You know what, I'll give you what I've got." With that Marco suddenly dropped backwards, surprising the Cue Ball, and kicking the gun out of his hand in front of Janna. "I'm sorry, I find guns to be an unfair advantage." Marco leaned his face in front of his assailant. He had started hanging from the tree by his tail and feet. "Now then, I'm going to leave with my friends, we're going to enjoy some time together, and you won't bother her anymore. Do I make myself clear?" The man vigorously nodded, he started to help the various men up that were scattered about the field. Marco then walked over to the girls and received a slap from both of them.

"Why would you risk yourself like that?" Janna asked him, intensity behind her eyes. "Why would you even get involved? I told you to let me handle it!"

"Janna, with all due respect. You couldn't. That guy who I sent to the underworld may be just like the others. Or they may have been just like him." He saw the look they were giving him. "Look, I may have had too much fun, but I haven't had a chance to get my aggression out in years. I promise not to risk myself like that again."

"Marco, we will still worry about you." Star sighed heavily and leaned against Marco's shoulder. "Just don't do anything we can't help with."

Marco chuckled. "No promises. Star." He then stood between Janna and Star and put his arms around their shoulders. "So how about some tacos? My treat."

Janna tapped her chin in mock thought. "Sure sounds fun."

"Same on this end. Although there are also burritos there." Star voiced nonchalantly.

"Although, wouldn't it be easier if you took us on separate dates Marco?" Janna teased.

Marco let out a sarcastic laugh. "Funny, you are. Let's go get some food."