Chapter 4 – Soul Eater
(A/N: This chapter is inspired by Supernatural season 11, episode 16 – Safe House.)
Entering the apartment of Chairwoman Chuchi, Fenrir and Tarre walked around. Behind them was Hera. Satine and Ahsoka had accompanied Chuchi to the hospital, where Ahsoka was going to attempt the force healing technique that she, Kanan and Ezra had used on Tarre. Kanan had gone to the Ghost to check on Ava and Sira. Hera shuddered as they stood at the entrance. Fenrir walked with is hand running through the air.
"This place… it gives me the creeps.", Hera said.
"What you are sensing is the raw anger and hate of the spirit,", Tarre said, "and it is all over the house. She would have to move."
"Alright, I think we got a decent picture here. There are either too many of them, or just a very powerful spirit.", Fenrir said.
"What is the house's history?", Tarre asked.
Hera then read of the datapad given to her by Chuchi, "There have been three deaths here. The first guy choked on a chicken bone. The second died of old age, and the third victim was murdered by her children." The three of them exited the apartment and headed towards the hospital.
"Excuse me.", they heard a woman's voice come from their left. "What are you doing here?"
"We're on official New Republic business ma'am.", Fenrir said.
"Well, I would like to know what this official business is you're here for?", the woman said.
"It's officially none of your damn business ma'am.", Tarre said and proceeded to walk onwards. The woman grimaced, Fenrir and Hera gave her a weak smile and caught up with their friend.
"Were you ever nice?", Fenrir asked.
"Once. Worst year of my life.", Tarre answered.
As the three entered the hospital, they saw Chuchi sitting next to her daughter, with Ahsoka standing over Olia, the girl looked to be in a deep sleep, while Satine was standing behind the two. She had placed her hand on Olia's head, letting the force guide her. The doctor observed Olia's vitals, which improved slightly, before Ahsoka withdrew her hand and shook her head.
"Ahsoka, are you alright?", Chuchi asked getting up at once.
"I am.", Ahsoka said and then saw the three outside the room. Chuchi followed her gaze and beckoned them in. As they entered, Fenrir informed Chuchi of what they had learned from her apartment. He then asked about the mysterious mark on Olia's leg. Chuchi then gingerly lifted the blanket around her daughter's left ankle, and sure enough they saw a handprint, which looked like it had been burned into her skin. Looking at the handprint, raised some doubts in Fenrir's mind but he kept quiet about it.
Tarre then assured Chuchi that her daughter will be back to normal within the day, and he beckoned Fenrir to move.
As the two moved outside the room, Fenrir said something in enochian, "Ol angelard t i ah bit uml complicated. Adgt't noan ah ghost (I think it is a bit more complicated. Can't be a ghost.)"
"What? We cased the house. It is definitely a ghost.", Tarre replied as the two headed towards the exit, and were followed by Ahsoka and Hera. As they neared towards them, the two women heard Fenrir and Tarre arguing.
"I swear they act like a married couple.", Hera said.
"Why are they arguing now?", Ahsoka asked as she and Hera sped up towards them.
As they neared the exit, they heard Tarre's annoyed voice, "Dammit Fenrir, why do you have everything so freaking complicated?"
"What's complicated?", Fenrir retorted, as the two stood at the opposite ends of a land-speeder, "All I am saying is that is not a Ghost, but a Baku."
"What!?", Tarre asked annoyed.
"A Japanese…", Fenrir began.
Tarre interrupted him, "I know what a Baku is, di'kut (idiot). We hunted one together in Alaska."
By this time Hera and Ahsoka had caught up, but before they could stop them Fenrir spoke, "All right I'll bet you a bottle of the finest Asgardian mead, that it's a Baku."
"Well then get ready to buy me the finest Asgardian mead, because it isn't a Baku. It's a ghost, simple as that.", Tarre replied.
"Guys, would please stop arguing.", Hera interrupted them. The two looked at her like they couldn't believe she had stopped them.
Tarre then turned back to Fenrir and said, "The sooner we destroy the remains, the sooner this whole thing blows over.", he then got into the passenger's seat and said, "Now come on, we got digging to do."
"It's Shabbat!", Fenrir said.
"Are you serious?", Tarre practically yelled.
"Deadly.", Fenrir replied.
"What's Shabbat?", Hera and Ahsoka asked.
"We don't have time for the answer.", Tarre said, "Besides, you flew all the way here. Isn't that against the rules?"
"Less talking. More hunting.", Fenrir said as he sat behind Tarre. Tarre started to move towards the driver's side, but Hera beat him.
"I'll drive.", she said. Ahsoka then sat behind her.
"Ahsoka, aren't you going to help Olia?", Tarre asked.
"I've done all I can for the moment. I need to recharge, before using the force again.", Ahsoka answered.
"Besides, you two need supervision.", Hera said as she started the speeder.
Reaching the cemetery, the four of them the first grave of the chicken bone victim. Tarre brought out a shovel.
As Tarre turned to face Fenrir, his friend said, "It's Shabbat."
Tarre groaned at this. "I can't believe you called me here to be your frigging backup."
"What are you two doing?", Ahsoka asked.
"I am standing, while Tarre is digging.", Fenrir answered.
"Why?", Hera and Ahsoka asked.
"The simplest way to get rid of vengeful spirits is to destroy their remains.", Fenrir said. A while later, Tarre had dug up the grave and opened the coffin. Climbing out of the grave, Tarre and Fenrir sprinkled oil and salt at the remains. Hera and Ahsoka had stepped back, as they couldn't handle the smell. Tarre had then lit the remains on fire, and the four stood by till the flames had eaten the remains of victim number 1.
'It was a good thing, that no one else was at the cemetery, because we wouldn't have been able to explain their actions', Hera thought.
Tarre was currently digging up the third grave and he stopped, climbing out of the grave. "Why are you stopping?", Fenrir asked.
"Because it's your turn.", Tarre said as he sat down throwing the shovel at Fenrir's feet.
"What my turn?", Fenrir asked. "I need you to listen buddy. I cannot help you alright, it is Shabbat."
"It is after sundown… so get to digging.", Tarre said, covered in dust, including Kanan's mask.
"Good catch.", Fenrir said after a moment and jumped in to start digging.
"You can tell, when the sun goes down?", Hera asked.
"Actually no. It was more of a wild guess.", Tarre answered.
"It paid off this time.", Fenrir said. As they finished burning the remains of the third victim, the four headed back.
Ahsoka's commlink beeped. Answering it she heard the distressed voice of Satine Kryze. "Ahsoka, the same thing has happened to Chuchi."
"What?", the four of them asking in a loud voice. Satine then informed that she had gone back to the apartment to get some stuff, for her daughter and never made it back. Kanan had then gone to get the Chairwoman and discovered her unconscious, with the same handprint on her ankle as well.
After she had finished, Fenrir asked Hera to take him and Tarre back to the quinjet on which he had arrived. As they drove, Ahsoka asked if they had any plan.
"Yeah. We need to do further research.", Fenrir answered. As they entered the quinjet, Fenrir and Tarre pulled out their moulds, producing many books. Fortunately for Tarre, these books came with a braille function.
"I need to go check on Chuchi.", Ahsoka said as she and Hera saw Tarre and Fenrir immersed in reading.
"I'll stay here with them.", Hera said. Ahsoka nodded and took the speeder to the hospital.
Nearly 12 hours had passed and the two were no closer to an answer. During that time, the two had forgotten about everything else. Hera had dozed off for a while, during which Kanan came to relieve her and sat with her. Now as she was awake, she saw Kanan prepare breakfast for everyone. Fenrir and Tarre were oblivious to their surroundings, barely noticing when Kanan said that breakfast was ready.
"Guys, you need to eat something.", Hera said, but received no response from them.
"I got it.", Tarre yelled out triumphantly.
Fenrir then looked up and asked, "Lay it on me."
"We're dealing with a soul eater.", Tarre said.
"A what?", Fenrir asked.
"They exist outside of our time and space. These things yank the soul out of a person, and keep with them in a nest.", Tarre explained. Hera and Kanan were positively alarmed at this.
"So, when they interact…", Fenrir began.
"It leaves a handprint on it's victims.", Tarre finished.
"How do we kill it?", Fenrir asked.
"There are these sigils, drawn in god-blood. It can push the souls trapped inside the nest back into our world, while killing the soul eater.", Tarre answered.
"God-blood. Ours will qualify.", Fenrir said, "Show me the sigil."
Tarre handed the book to Fenrir and said, "For the sigils to work, they must be drawn both inside the nest and outside."
"Meaning, one of us would have to go inside.", Fenrir said as he looked at the sigil.
"That's crazy.", Hera said.
"But necessary.", Fenrir said. He then looked at Tarre and said, "We'll draw lots."
The two then got up, went to the onboard refresher, to extract enough blood for the sigil. By then Ahsoka had come to the quinjet as well and asked, "Any progress?" Hera and Kanan informed her of their plan.
"What? They want to… what?", she asked confused.
A while had passed before Fenrir and Tarre stepped out of the refresher, looking pale and weak. In their hands were their respective jars of blood.
"How is Chuchi and her daughter?", Tarre asked.
"They are getting worse.", Ahsoka answered. "About your plan…", Ahsoka began.
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure, that no else is in the house.", Tarre interrupted her.
"But…", Hera, Ahsoka and Kanan began.
"No buts. Trust us, this isn't the first time we have faced a nightmarish monster.", Fenrir interrupted them. The look on his face made it clear that there would be no further arguments.
As the two entered Chuchi's apartment, they locked the door behind them. Standing outside Olia's room Tarre pointed at the floor and said, "You paint yours here. I'll do mine inside the nest."
"Your sigil sets the table and mine kills it.", Fenrir said.
"Yeah.", Tarre said as he stepped inside Olia's room. "Come and get me you son of a bitch.", he whispered.
A while later Tarre felt something sneak up behind him and grab him by the ankle. Tarre grunted as he fell on the floor and felt that he was being pulled away. Outside Fenrir heard a thud and whispered to himself, "Stay away from me, you son of a bitch."