Chapter 13: Fright Night
This day has had many names throughout history. Samhain, All Saints' Day, All Souls Day, Dia De Los Muertos, All Hallows Eve, and finally Halloween. Different cultures celebrated this day in their own way. Honoring dead loved ones, lighting bonfires, causing mischief, trick or treating, and dressing up in costumes. Around the world, people go out and celebrate this day without knowing what happens. They never know what lurks just beneath the surface.
"Do you trust Shield?" Mal asked as Alistair got ready.
Alistair pulled an all-nighter preparing for the next night to come. He had bought four silver rings that he enchanted to prevent possession and mind control. They also act as demon detectors. When they're in proximity of a demon they will begin to glow blue.
"I trust a few people in Shield." He replied, "The people we met yesterday, for example, I trust them."
"Why only them?"
"I'll explain later but right now I need to get as much sleep before tonight." He yawned standing up from his desk, "Not to mention I need a shower." He muttered before walking down his room and into the bathroom.
After a quick shower, Alistair put on black pajamas and a white t-shirt. He plopped down on the bed and sighed. Flipping over on his back he scooted back again the pillows enjoying the view. He smiled to himself before he looked up at the ceiling.
Back in her cat form Maleficent hopped on the foot of the bed, "I still don't understand. You're more powerful than them why do you need them?"
Alistair sighed and sat up to look at the cat, "Fact of the matter is I need allies, particularly allies with connections and skills. I know a lot about this world but there's still a lot I don't know too." He explained, "I don't even know if mutants are even a thing here or the exact dates of the things I know, most of which take place in two-year intervals. Shield's resources can help me fill in the gaps."
"Why not seek out allies with abilities like yours?" She asked stretching her legs.
"The people I know that have abilities won't be active for at least a few more years." He replied, "Besides they need some personal growth and when I go to them they need to be at their best." He added before swung his legs over the bed, "That reminds me."
Maleficent watched as Alistair picked up his laptop and returned to the bed. Crossing his legs he opened the laptop, "What are you doing?"
"Come over here and find out." He muttered as he opened a document and began to type. Maleficent walked up to Alistair and looked at the computer screen, "This is the Defenders Initiative." He stated as he continued, "Daredevil, Power Man, Iron Fist and Jewel. . . Knightress? I'm going to figure out her codename later I'm just gonna call her JJ. I'm going to need them eventually."
"What can they do?" She asked curiously.
"Daredevil's a blind ninja, Iron Fist is a Shaolin warrior with a magical fist, Power Man has indestructible skin and super strength, JJ has super strength and flight although she hasn't learned how to use it yet." He answered before he hummed, "I guess I could add others later but I have to wait and see." He muttered before closing the laptop, "Maybe the Punisher?" He suggested before he yawned, "I need sleep. Can't banish demons while sleep-deprived."
Laying down Alistair yawned again before rolling onto his side. Taking a deep breath he began to drift off. Opening his eyes he sighed, sleep eluded him. He groaned before he sat up and froze in shock and terror. Outside of the glass wall day had turned into night but that was the least of it.
The skyscrapers and streets below were burning. The many fires lit up the night with carnage and destruction. Getting up from the bed he seemed to have glided across the room and towards the glass. Looking down he saw people running, fighting, and killing. It was chaos pure chaos.
"What the hell?" He managed to let out before he slowly backed away from the glass.
His retreat was halted when the floor began to slant towards the glass. Hearing the concrete of the building crumble he realized that the building was toppling over. He quickly ran up to the wall of closets and grabbed a single handle before the building finally fell over. Alistair's weight opened the wooden door of the closet as the top half of the building fell.
Alistair watched helplessly as he saw the street below barreling towards him. Crashing to the ground the glass flew up and Alistair quickly shut his eyes as shards of glass flew around him. Hearing the glass clattering on the ground Alistair opened his eyes to see his room in ruin. Letting go of the handle he easily landed on his feet.
"What's happening?" He panted before a groaning sound above him caused him to freeze.
Looking up he saw the wall begin to crack. Without a second a thought Alistair busted into a sprint just before the wall above him collapsed. He didn't bother looking over his shoulder knowing the falling debris is close behind. Seeing a crack of light in the wall ahead he cried out as he launched in a sudden burst of speed. Shoulder first Alistair broke through the damaged wall before stumbling to the ground as his apartment collapsed.
Getting to his feet Alistair groaned at the pain in his shoulder. He looked at the ruins in his apartment in shock. Suddenly his shadow appeared before him as light shined behind him. Turning around he saw a large fiery inferno towering as high as buildings. At the foot of the flame stood a tall pitch-black figure. It seemed to be a man but its blood-red eyes told him that he was far from human.
Alistair conjured a shield with his one good arm. The shield was large enough to protect his entire body. This did nothing ss the black figure swung his hand instantly breaking the shield. The figure began to walk towards him at an agonizingly slow pace. Alistair looked at the man in fear before he conjured a sword which instantly broke apart. He then conjured a whip but it wrapped around his body binding him.
Alistair desperately struggled against the whip. Looking up the man came upon him. He wrapped his large black hand around Alistair's neck and lifted him off the ground. Alistair gasped for air as he looked into the blood-red eyes of the man. A black bladed scythe appeared in the man's empty hand.
"What do you want?" Alistair gasped out.
The man pulled Alistair so they were face to face, "Hell on earth." He growled before he raised Alistair and slammed him down to the asphalt.
In a sudden jolt, Alistair shot up and found that he was in his bed. Looking out the window he saw the orange sky, the sun was setting. Opening his laptop he saw that it was just past 5 PM. He groaned before he stood up. Alistair quickly got changed into black jeans and a grey shirt before he put on a crimson robe over them. Wrapping a leather belt over the robe it hugged his body better.
Alistair considered this to be his utility belt. It held holy water, silver daggers, and his sling ring. It also didn't make it look like he was walking around in a bathrobe. Gathering the essentials for tonight he made his way to the living room. Maleficent was asleep on the couch in her regular form. He smiled before he heard a knock on the door. Frowning he walked to the door and opening it to find Natasha and Clint waiting in full gear. They probably didn't sweat appearances because it's Halloween.
"I'm not even going to question how you passed the doorman or the key-locked elevator." Alistair sighed before stepping aside to let them in, "Just the two of you?" He asked as they walked in.
"Coulson had another assignment." Natasha replied.
Noticing they're both holding suitcases Alistair asked, "What you got there?"
"The essentials." Clint replied before he paused seeing the black cat on the sofa, "It isn't going to turn into a lion or a tiger right?"
"She only transforms when I want her to." Alistair replied, "I'll be right back." He said before walking away.
Going back to his room he picked up the two rings on his nightstand. He crouched down and picked up a black duffle bag. lugging it over his shoulder he moved back towards the living. There he found Natasha and Clint placing their gear on the marble counter in his kitchen.
Approaching them he looked over all the various weapons and guns neatly placed on the counter, "Damn, you guys are prepared." He said before put the duffle bag on the floor and opening it, "Here you go robin hood, silver-tipped arrows." He said pulling out a quiver of arrows and tossing them to the archer who caught them, "And for the lady, silver bullets." He added pulling out a box of bullets and handing it to Natasha.
"When are you going to break out the Bible?" Clint chuckled.
"Let me guess, you watched the Exorcist in preparation for this?" Alistair asked with a smirk.
Clint let out a nervous laugh, "Pfft! No, I didn't."
"Uh-huh sure." Natasha smirked before turning towards Alistair, "So what's the gameplan?"
"First order of business." Alistair said before raising his hand with two rings, "Put these on."
Natasha picked her ring up and inspected it, "What are these for?"
"They're basically demon detectors." Alistair answered as Clint took his ring, "They'll start glowing when a demon's close." He explained as they put the rings on, "Also these." He bent down and grabbed three necklaces out of the bag, "These will protect you from demon possession, mind control, the basics."
Giving the necklaces to the agents they looked down at the circular symbol, "What's this symbol?" Clint asked as he put it on.
Alistair looked down at the necklace, "It's the Seal of the Vishanti. It'll protect you." He answered putting the necklace on.
"Good enough for me." Nat said as she put on her necklace, "So what's the plan for tonight?"
"For now, we eat." Alistair smiled before raising his hand, "I'm craving Italian." He said before opening a portal walking through it.
The portal closed as soon as it opened, "What just happened?" Clint asked before another portal opened and Alistair came back with two plastic bags.
Placing the bags on the island he sighed, "Hope you're hungry." He said passing plastic containers to the two agents.
Opening the boxes the two agents quickly traded so that Clint got the chicken Parmesan and Natasha got spaghetti. Alistair opened his box to find ravioli. Two other containers had garlic bread and calamari. They ate in relaxed silence before Alistair spoke.
"Oh and I didn't pre-order this it was on a counter and I snatched it." He chimed in finishing his garlic bread.
The two agents gave him a look before they shrugged.
Eventually, they finished the food and got back to business, "Back to the plan." Alistair said as he pulled out his laptop, "Demons feed on the sins of mortals so I've been tracking crime rates around the city."
"And what you got?" Clint asks throwing a piece of calamari into the air before catching it in his mouth.
"Highest from rate is in Hell's Kitchen and no I am not kidding." He quickly added.
"Fitting." Natasha commented, "Anywhere else?"
"It's spotty but most of the crime is centered on Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx." Alistair answered scrolling around the map before he turned to the two spies, "Buckle up it's about to be a long Halloween."
"You guys got anything?" Natasha asked through the comp in his ear.
"Nothing yet, hey kid you sure these rings work?" Clint asked.
"Of course they do." Alistair said trying to sound confident.
The three were patrolling two blocks at a time. They haven't run into any demons yet but it was barely 10 PM so there was a lot of time left. They've kept an ear out for robberies, vandalism but mostly tried to find assaults. The sin of taking a life is like a drug to demons especially if it's out of greed, anger, or envy. The three of them paid more attention to the emptier streets where there weren't any kids trick or treating with their parents.
Alistair sighed, "Please don't be a bust." He sighed before his ring began to vibrate. Looking down at his left hand he saw the golden glow around his index finger. As if on queue he heard a man screaming, "Guys, I got something." He said urgently before he began to walk faster.
"On our way to your position." Natasha immediately informed.
"Finally!" Clint exclaimed.
Following the source of the scream, he came upon an alleyway where he found two men towering over a teenager. Alistair raised his hand at the men and the ring shined brighter. They weren't common criminals they were demons craving a soul to devour.
"Hey boys!" Alistair screamed catching their attention, "That's not a nice way to play." He smirked before conjuring a sword.
Recognizing Alistair as a sorcerer the two demons began to show their true forms. They began to grow in height and mass ripping their clothes. Their skin turned into a deep red, their hair shredded off revealing two sets of pointed horns. Alistair blinked in surprise before he began to chuckle.
"Seriously, that's what you guys look like?" He laughed, "You guys look so generic!"
Alistair continued to laugh until his stomach began to ache. The two demons growled before the shorter one sprouted wings and lunged at him. Alistair's laughing immediately stopped before he jumped over the demon and conjured a whip. Swinging the whip it wrapped around the demon's neck. Using all of his strength he swung the demon over his head and down onto his companion.
Landing on his feet Alistair let the whip go before he began to weave signs, "Hope you guys like the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak."
Four bands erupted from Alistair's palm and ensnared the two demons. Closing his hand into a fist the bands tightened around the demons. Alistair smirked as he approached the demons.
"That was easier than I thought." He stated before conjuring a sword, "Honestly, I expected more." He said before he heard a growl above him.
Alistair froze before he looked to see a third demon barring down at him. The demon went to attack him before a silver arrowhead came through his eye. Alistair blinked in shock before he stepped aside as the demon dropped to the ground. Looking up he saw Natasha and Clint at the end of the ally with the archer's bow raised.
"Thanks." Alistair nodded St the blonde who shrugged.
"Don't mention it." He replied as they approached.
Natasha remained alert before she gave Alistair what appeared to be a scolding look, "Remember to keep your back to the wall next time."
"Noted." The younger man nodded before one of the other demons growled, "Oh yeah." He raised his sword before decapitating them.
"What do we do with the, uh, leftovers?" Clint asked.
"Send them back to where they came from." Alistair said before reaching down and dipping his fingers in demon blood, "We'll have to be quick unless we want more demons to come out." He said as he began to weave signs.
"Come out of what?" Clint asked as he eyed the glowing glyphs the young man created.
"The portal to hell." He answered before a made a red pentagram, "Get ready to kick them inside. Like taking out the trash."
The spies nodded as Alistair enlargened the pentagram before it began to spin. It spun rapidly before a portal opened unleashing an inferno. The three of them flinched at the sudden light. The roaring of fire was followed by the screeches of whatever was inside.
"Now!" Alistair commanded before they shoved the bodies and heads inside the portal. Stepping away from the portal they saw a swarm of demons coming their way, "Get back!" He ordered before he raised his hands and recited a spell closing the portal.
The three of them took a moment to collect themselves before Clint said, "Holy shit, you aren't crazy!" He said pointing at Alistair who laughed, "Or maybe you are if you willingly do this shit."
"Maybe I am." Alistair laughed, "It would explain a lot."
"The nights not over." Natasha said looking down at her glowing ring.
"Let's go." Alistair said before he began to walk out of the alley.
"I'm going to need therapy after this." Clint sighed.
"As if you didn't before?" Natasha smirked as she walked past him getting a glare from him.
The rest of the night remained just as thrilling. They encountered demon after demon, killing them and sending them back to hell. They ran into two vampires before Natasha put two holes in their heads. Clint also got to help Alistair to exorcise a demon out of a child.
After each encounter, they began to work together more cohesively. Alistair would force the demons into the air for Clint to shoot down or he and Natasha could fight in tandem and cut them down. Alistair liked the thought that they were getting used to each other. Their familiarity will be useful in the future.
"Last one of the night." Alistair said opening the portal to hell before the two spies shoved the large bodies inside the portal. Closing it Alistair sighed, "Let's get a bite to eat. Time for breakfast."
"Don't you mean dinner?" Clint asked with a yawn.
"It's 3 AM, breakfast." Natasha clarified.
Walking away none of them noticed a single red spark where the portal once was.