Approaching the town they both came in behind a small building. In fact, the whole town was small buildings. A few houses, A general store that seemed empty, a few other stores, a library, and a large building that neither Zarra nor Joshua could identify. It looked like some kind of factory but neither one could be sure. It did however seem to have the most life as the parking lot was filled to the brim with vehicles.
The small building they came around was a diner. Nobody inside except for the counter person and a lonely man sitting at the farthest booth. Before walking in, Joshua stopped Zarra looking at her troubled. She shrugged asking, "What?"
"Isn't there - anything you can do about your eyes?"
"Like what? What's wrong with my eyes?" She asked a bit offended.
Quickly defending himself and his hidden feelings, "Oh nothing! Nothing at all! Its just that I don't know if people will react to them very well." Nervously saying it like he really didn't have a good excuse to begin with.
"I can solve that if somebody asks. Now, are you hungry or what?"
Sighing deeply, "I guess so."
The two entered with the counterman giving them a friendly greeting. More than what Joshua expected. "Hi! Welcome to Turblose Diner. What can I get for you?!" A wide smile over his face with nearly perfect, white teeth. A rag in one hand and a old fashioned ice cream scoop in the other.
A little off-put by the diner man, Joshua pulled away from him, heading towards a booth, "A menu would be nice."
"Coming right up young man!" The counterman said with more enthusiasm than humanly possible.
The two sat in a red booth next to a big window. They both were a little unease at the diner man's outgoingness. Joshua didn't know what was going on and neither did Zarra. She was on her utmost guard looking around, scanning for anything angelic or demonic. The menu was planted right between them as the man smiled at Joshua, "There you are young man, let me know what else you want, if anything at all! Okay?" Saying it like a happy slave.
With doubting eyes and a cautious attitude, Joshua replied, "Yeah, thanks."
Then the counterman looked at Zarra and had this despicable sneer cross his face. He walked away with Zarra staying calm. She didn't want to make a big scene and get Joshua in trouble. Not yet anyway. She smelled the stench of brimstone in the air. Something evil was going on in this town but as for what she wasn't sure.
Meanwhile, Joshua looked over the menu and saw a nice, big, fat, thick, greasy…no! He had to keep light. He saw a nice salad and decided to try that instead. He waved the counterman over. Heading over, the diner man was stopped by a customer who came in.
She was a small, dark-complexioned, oriental girl. Philippine or Korean. Only about six maybe five years old. Shoulder length dark hair with pouting lips. She had her head down and was silently crying to herself.
The counterman looked at both her and Joshua with fearful eyes. Changing his look quickly, he asked of the young girl, "What's wrong Nora?"
The little girl known as Nora looked up wiping the tears away from her eyes, telling the diner man, "My kitty, he's been missing for a week and I can't find him!" Breaking down into tears again.
Again, he looked at Joshua and back at the girl, "Well honey, I'm sorry but I have other things to attended to."
Quickly getting up from his seat before Zarra could stop him, Joshua approached the little girl. The diner man looked at Joshua with fear, "I didn't know she would do this!"
Squinting with confusion, Joshua commanded the counterman, "Quiet!"
He swallowed hard and backed away staying silent as instructed.
Bending down with a smile, Joshua said to the small girl, "Hi. I'm Joshua. This is Zarra." Pointing to the demon behind him.
Nora pointed at Joshua with a giggle, "You have green hair!"
Looking up with a grin, he said, "Yep. I sure do."
She had a bit more of a laugh at his expense and he didn't care. The counterman was sweating bullets at this point. Belting out with fear saturating his voice, "Please, she's just a child!"
Looking at the counterman slowly and menacingly, Joshua angrily said, "Shut-up!"
Looking down shamefully, he said back, "Please, its just the hair and she is…"
Standing up with a sigh of frustration, Joshua yelled out, "If you don't keep your mouth shut, I'm sicking her on you." Pointing back at Zarra. "She hasn't done anything violent for awhile. She gets these jonsings every once and awhile to do harm to somebody. It isn't pretty. Now please, shut your mouth or you won't have it for very long."
Shaking in fear, looking at Zarra who jeered at him, the counterman just shriveled up and whimpered a little bit.
Turning his attention back to Nora. "Now, you say you lost your kitten?"
She nodded sadly.
"Well, I'll help you find it."
Nora pleasantly and surprisingly asked, "You will?!"
"You bet." Joshua said with his hands on his hips, standing tall with a proud grin on his face.
Nora jumped slightly excited. Bending back down he asked, "Now, where did you see your kitty last?"
Nora sniffled a little and then said, "In my backyard."
"Alright. Show me."
The three left the diner leaving just the counterman and the lonely man in the back booth. A long exhale came from the dinner man. It was a breath of relieve. Until the man in the back booth sat up. He had not even moved since coming in. He walked up to the counter and sat on a stool in a brown trench coat with a brown fedora. No face with no body at all. Just the fedora and the coat. Some pants and nicely shined shoes. They were on a body that just couldn't be seen. Gloved hands balled into fists sat on the counter. A deep, demonic voice came from the brown-coated man. It reverberated with an evil deep tone. It was not human by any stretch of the imagination. "Do you know who that was?"
The dinner man just looked at the guy. "Yes I do." His voice still shaky with fear.
"So then, tell me, why didn't you ask what he was doing here so early?" Slipping a monstrous tentacle out of his glove. Spikes traveled down the writhing limb. They dug deep into the countertop with a calm fury.
"I - I thought that - he wasn't - informed!"
"He isn't. He is here too soon. Still, you should have found out why he was here." The bass, demonic tone while evil and otherworldly, was still calm and very level-headed.
"I didn't know what to say!"
Grabbing the diner man by the throat he dragged him nearly over the counter with hardly a stitch of clothing out of place. Just the arm and tentacle moved. That demonic bass voice saying again, "You could have said anything to keep him off the trail of the missing animals. You know where they went."
Gagging and choking at the strong grip of the slick, spiked appendage had around his throat, the counterman gasped out with barely an auditable, "Of course but I didn't know what to do!"
"Then you are useless to us." The hat turning towards the diner man.
Shocked and fearful eyes focused on the hat as the diner man gasped out, "Wait. Wait! I can still make sure he doesn't find out what is in the factory. I can keep him away from it."
The fedora turned away from the man pulling him over the counter completely and tossing him up against the bottom. The trench coat man got up, putting his black glove back on, disguising the thing as a hand once again. Not one ounce of epidermis showing. "Make sure he doesn't enter that factory. I shouldn't have to tell you not to kill him or hurt him but - don't do it!" Roaring out at the diner man making him climb to his feet in hysterics. The coated stranger then said, "If you were to deviate from this, I will be sure that Balscoth has your head for a million years to do with as he pleases. And you know the Lord can get very - inventive."
Bowing to the coated stranger, the diner man pleaded, "Yes, oh thank you for this wonderful chance to prove…"
"Move it!"
The diner man flew out the doors looking for Joshua, Zarra, and Nora.
They were over at Nora's house. It was a small white house with a fenced in backyard. It was nothing but dust and a leafless bush here-and-there but it was a backyard nonetheless.
Joshua looked around in the fenced up area while Zarra looked outside. Nora said to them, "Maybe you should call his name?"
Looking at her, Josh asked, "What's his name?"
"Mr. Sunshine. I named him that because it was just starting to be morning when I got him."
Josh smiled weakly and called his name. Zarra silently refused. Looking at the girl again, Joshua said, "Nora, why don't you wait for us in your house with your parents. Okay?"
"Okay." Nora said disappointedly. She stomped around her house and went in through the front door. Little did either the two see the diner man sneak in through the front door as well.
Scanning out a little farther, Zarra asked upset, "Why the hell are we doing this?! Looking for a cat! I've got to get you to Balscoth immediately."
Looking in a corner, Joshua said, "Not until we find this kitten."
Looking away, Zarra stomped over to the gate separating the backyard from the desert wasteland saying, "I don't take orders from you!"
Sadly looking down, turning his head toward Zarra slowly, Joshua said somberly, "I know Zarra. Please, just help me with this then you can take me - wherever."
Wild and shocked eyes stared at Joshua. Please? It was a word she had never heard used so closely to her name before. Well, not unless Balscoth was begging for her to cry. Even then it was rare. It was good to hear. She had to be sure. "What did you say?"
"Help me find this kitten, please!" Joshua asked, this time slightly more forcible but his gentle nature was still prevalent.
Not sure what to say, confused more than she had probably ever been, Zarra just simply said, "Okay."
A weeded bush sat just ten feet from the house and the backyard. Something drew Zarra to it. The stench of brimstone. It pungently hung in the air and was getting more rank as she approached. Bending down near the bush she picked up a small, severed tail. A tail belonging to a young cat. "Joshua!"
Snapping his head he came running and Zarra showed him what she had picked up. Staring at the tail he looked back at his demon companion, "You think…"
"I don't think - I feel it."
Wincing, turning up his nose, Joshua asked with a cough, "What is that smell?"
Zarra said with a sigh, "Brimstone."
"God it smells like - rotten eggs and burnt metal."
"Yeah, its enough to gag you first time you smell it. After a few months of the stench it just become a sort of burnt smell. Like heavily cooked meat." Zarra put the cat tail down where she found it standing up.
"What leaves that sort of smell?!" Joshua asked, stepping away from the bush.
With a long, drawn-out exhale, Zarra ominously answered, "Any demon of Hell."
"You don't have that smell."
"Yes I do. You just can't smell it because I have been in the human world for awhile. Here, smell my hand." she extended her hand to him.
Looking at it nervously, shaking from a lady extended her hand to him. Not only that, she was asking him to 'sniff' her.
"Well?"
Tilting his head trying to maintain composure he leaned in and took a whiff. "I can't…"
She grabbed him by the back of the head and shoved his nose onto her flesh. It was there. Even though the stench was there, he spent as long as he could feeling her skin. While the smell nearly made him gag, her skin felt soft and his hormones were going into overdrive. He pulled away feeling a tremble in the back of his throat from the smell. "Okay! Okay!"
Looking back at the dead cat's tail, Zarra said to Joshua, "There is only one thing that would eat a cat whole. Or any creature for that matter."
"I'm listening." He said still trying to get some of the lingering effect of the smell out of his nose.
"A hellhound."
"What? Like a skinned Doberman on fire thing."
Zarra spoke to him with confidence knowing all about them. More than once they had feasted on her guts and torn her limb-from-limb. Only to have Balscoth put her back together for it to be done all over again. "That's one type, yes. There are many different types. Misras, Blades, Marionettes, Basilisks, Endevours, Polasits, Infestants, basically any low-ranking demon that has no allegiance to a demon lord. They're up for grabs to the most ruthless and some aren't as low-ranking as one might think."
Intense eyes occupied Joshua's head. He stared down at the severed tail asking, "I thought you demons didn't have to - feed." The last word nearly sickening Joshua to say.
"Some." Looking at the tail herself. "Most just either do it because they remember it from when they were alive or - plain mutilation factor."
"It works." he said giving the 'devil' his due.
"Joshua." Nora's voice came making them both turn. Her voice sounding sad and fear-filled. Both of them now knew why. The diner man had her prisoner with a big kitchen knife to her throat. It was already covered in blood. He said darkly, "Stay right where you are boy. Hate to cut her up like her parents."
Joshua and Zarra tensed up. Though, Zarra not as much being confident that no human could hurt her and sure wouldn't hurt Joshua. Not really caring what happen to the girl.
Pressing the knife to the small girl's throat making her yelp out, "Help me!"
Joshua balled-up his fists. Trying not to scare the girl, "Its alright Nora. He isn't going to hurt you. I promise."
The crazed diner man said, "Don't make promises you can't keep. Now, tell your 'pet' to stand over there. Far away so we can have a chat." Motioning towards a small patch of desert.
Looking over at Zarra, Joshua requested, "Go on Zarra. I want to hear this maniac out." His voice powerful and demanding.
Glancing over at him doubtfully, Zarra slowly walked over to the small patch.
Licking his lips nervously, the counterman said, "Why did you come here? We weren't ready for you yet."
Sliding his head, looking at the counterman sideways, Joshua asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Everything was so perfect. You would have had everything of ours at your disposal. Now, you will get nothing!"
Calmly, carefully, and confidently, Joshua said, "I don't think I would want anything of yours!"
"Not mine! The whole town! We all wanted our lord. We kept all those hellhounds safe for you. All of them were kept cool and fed well."
Looking over, Joshua asked the only demon, "Zarra, what on Earth is he talking about?!"
Zarra could only responded. "I have no idea! He must be a familiar for Balscoth."
"A what?" Joshua blurted out.
"Don't you call me that!" The knife wielding, diner man shouted out. "I am a loyal servant of his lord and master, Balscoth."
"Like I said, a familiar." Zarra sneered. "Its what we call cultists and human worshippers in the demonworld. Pitiful bags of wasted flesh."
"Shut-up!" The diner man yelled. His grip slightly slipping.
Gawking helplessly at Nora, Joshua formulated a plan to help the little girl. It was sadistic but if it worked, the girl would be safe. Concentrating on the captor, "Wow. Balscoth must think you're useless."
"What?! Enough bad things. I have served the lord tirelessly!"
"Well then, prove it." Joshua said, faking a sly tone.
"I have!"
"Not from where I'm standing. Imagine what Balscoth would think if he saw you instead of her." Motioning over at Zarra.
"What are you going on about?"
Taking a step towards the deranged man, "Think about it. You kill his top lieutenant, take me to him instead of her, I think that proves your value."
The man's grip on Nora was loosening. Looking at Zarra wildly, "You think so?"
"Hey if I'm so important, I'll be sure to put in a good word for you. Just let go of her."
The diner man looked down saying, "Oh no! I let go of her, I lose my leverage."
"Hey, look at me." Joshua pleaded, pointing to himself. "I'm your leverage."
Letting go of Nora, the diner man walked right for Joshua still wielding his knife. Like a machine he came at him but didn't make it very far. Zarra lashed out with one of her chains smacking away the knife from his hand. Meanwhile, Joshua ran for Nora and picked her up in a strong hug.
The man dove for the knife but Zarra lashed out with her other chain, wrapping around the man, and dragging him towards her. Josh turned around so Nora wouldn't see what happened next. The diner man didn't have a prayer. When Zarra was done with him, he was in two pieces instead of one, painting the desert floor red.
Still coddling the young girl, Joshua walked her to the front of her house and set her down on a small stoop. "There now, you won't have to worry about him anymore."
With tears in her eyes, Nora asked, "Did you find my kitty?"
"No. But - uhm - I'll tell you what, I'm sure when he's ready, he'll come home all by himself. Cats are like that."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Do you have anybody to take care of you?"
Looking around, Nora said, "The babysitter down the road. She takes good care of me."
Seeing Zarra come around the corner with mean eyes, Joshua said, "Well okay." Stroking Nora's face. "You be good."
She turned around with a sniffle and despairingly went back inside never being right again.
"Damn!" Joshua exclaimed. He went over to Zarra who grabbed him by the arm and began dragging him harshly, "We are leaving now!"
Struggling out of her strong grip, Joshua yelled out, "No! There's still stuff I need to do here!"
Looking at him with fire she ensnared him in one of her chains. Falling to the ground helpless, Joshua struggled but it was no use. He was her prisoner. The chain cutting into him harshly. The cold steel rubbing him making him feel uncomfortable. He laid there looking up at her with the chain locked around him. She turned dragging him as he wiggled on the ground like a worm on a hook, Zarra said commandingly, "I don't have time for this! You will come with me. You will do what I say not the other way around! I will drag you like this all the way to Balscoth if I have to! Until Balscoth gets a hold of you, I am your god, get it?!"
Still struggling, Joshua yelled out, "Aren't you just the least bit curious as to what or where all these hellhounds are stored?!"
"I suppose I'll find out soon enough." Zarra said, dragging him across the ground easily.
"You'll get tired."
"No I won't."
"You'll get bored."
"No I won't."
"Would you please let me go?"
"No I won't!"
"I could get hurt like this."
Zarra stopped. Jeering out to the horizon she let out a huff. The chain slowly unraveled from Joshua's body back into Zarra's arm. Looking down at Joshua she nodded with restrained fury as he stood up. She then began walking away from him.
"Where are you going?"
Zarra waved at him not even looking back, "I'm leaving with you or without you."
Shrugging, Joshua went the opposite direction. His green hair shining in the midday sun. The heat making him tired and sluggish. He looked back and saw Zarra still walking not even effected by the heat. He yelled out to her, "What happens when Balscoth sees you without me?"
She just kept on walking.
Determined, Josh turned around heading out to find these hellhounds. Walking to the library he sat down out front thinking to himself, 'If I was a hellhound, where would I be?' He turned around and walked into the library. Looking around at the rows of books, and happy to be in the air-conditioning, he headed towards the front desk.
There was a young woman with some chewing gum. Reading a book apparently not interested in what was in it. Joshua walked up to the desk and asked, "Excuse me, do you have anything on demonology?"
A tisk came from her of annoyance not even making eye contact with Joshua. "Yeah, you and everybody else who comes in here. Aisle 9 now buzz off!"
Thinking to himself about what the diner man had said about the entire town. He Stood tall with his hands folded behind his back and a devilish smile, "Is that anyway to talk to me!" Josh's voice sounding more lower and bass-filled than what he though he could do.
A slow turn of the lady's head and she was staring right at Joshua. His devilish grin getting wider. The woman nearly fell out of her chair. "But you…"
"Silence!" Putting his hand up in a formal and prejudice manor. "You will show me to the shelf."
Nearly falling over herself to get around the desk she lead the way. Joshua just smiled giddily from behind her. Approaching one of the tall, oak book cases she motioned down the aisle with a bow and a hand gesture to proceed. Stopping in front of her with several looks around the library, Joshua made use of his new voice, "Be gone!" She rushed away from him like a scolded dog. Grinning with arrogance he said to himself in his normal voice, "I could get use to this."
Proceeding down the aisle of books he found a few on hellhounds. Taking the books to a table and reading them he found a lot of bogus information compared to what Zarra had told him. Not to mention his own good judgment was cringing at some of it. One thing he found was some kind of concoction for a summoning spray made out of wolf hair and squirrel seamen. 'What kind of sick, twisted, perverted mind comes up with this stuff?' He thought sneering at the words. He did, however, find two bits of useful information. That hellhounds' appetites were insatiable and that they like to rest in cool places when in the mortal plane.
Leaving the books he walked out of the library back into the sweltering heat. Looking at the horizon the sun was heading towards the ground. Evening was approaching. The big factory lay before him as he looked out at the lowering sun. He knew better than to think a factory would be a cool, aired place to hang out. That was until he saw the some twenty AC units on the ground pumping at full blast into the large building. Plus, several heavy trucks with tanks of Freon. A large company logo of an O with two P's inside. Joshua noticed that was a strange logo.
Heading up to the front doors carefully as to not be seen he peered inside seeing a woman sitting at a desk and two big men standing guard. One was wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow and a unicorn on it. It didn't take away from his over six foot, bulging presence. Taking a few breaths to get himself ready, Joshua got back into character. He walked in confidently and looked at the three strongly and swallowed his nervousness down. Standing them down with his fists clenched. Bringing out that dark voice of his, "Do you know who I am?"
All three of them stood at attention like soldiers and the woman said with a gleeful spark, "You're army is ready, master!"
