First things first, this is an AU. It's also OOC. Any episodes after "Taken" are completely disregarded.
It's also a rewrite of the same story from years ago. I stumbled on it again, and it made me cringe. Someone mentioned they would love a rewrite but wanted me to leave the original up, so here this one is.
Demons are all over this story: demons and bionics. If you read the original, it will be mostly the same. There will be extended or new scenes, though, so you can look forward to that.
If you're confused, that's okay. It's meant to be mysterious and strange. If you demand answers, the old stories are still there.
I might not even finish this project, but I figured I'd post the first chapter to gauge interest. Just to see if it's even worth pursuing.
I don't own Lab Rats or anything you recognize.
"…I see me through your eyes…."
Leona Lewis, "I See You"
Chase
A gust of icy wind blew papers around the room, extinguishing some candles around me. As thin tendrils of smoke rose in the air, frost crept along the floor. A dense fog settled into the room, carrying on it the scent of sulfur as it mingled with the burning incense. Small flames flared up along the edges of my Circle, tracing the lines that were drawn on the floor.
Hey, it was my first time. I wanted to scare the idiot. I mean, who found a bionic half-demon and said, "Hey, I'll Summon this guy!" The only thing that made this tolerable was that it was better than where I had been seconds ago. I didn't enjoy having my tail burned off, thank you very much. With any luck, whoever-this-was just called me up for fun. I'd be Dismissed faster that way. I didn't know where I'd end up at that point, but I'd cross that bridge when I got there. Maybe I'd just go to Otherworld. That would be something.
Let me pause here and explain something: demons lived in a different dimension I liked to call the Otherworld. A determined Summoner could track down the name of any demon who lived there. The problem with this was that I'd never been there. I was frolicking around on Earth, which meant that nobody should have been able to find me at all.
Yet my essence was gathering inside a Summoning Circle. How quaint.
It took a few seconds for me to merge into my complete form. I liked to think it was scary to watch a shimmering, black cloud appear and turn into something almost human. Just ignore the black cat ears and tail, the fangs, the raven wings, and my slit pupils, and I was more human than the vast majority of demons out there. I mean, it probably helped that I was still half-human, but that point still stood. I allowed myself to appear with my arms crossed and ears pinned back. Let this moron come face-to-face with a pissed djinni and tremble!
Very good! Bare your teeth! Make sure to growl!
Oh, about that: I had a voice in my head now. I think it was a demonic instinct that didn't fully take hold, which rendered it a thought process instead of a subconscious drive. Technically, it was still me, but it was the me that would exist if I was born a demon, I supposed. It was a presence I had to deal with daily. Just this once, though, I could listen. I pulled my lips back to display my fangs, letting a growl bubble up from my throat.
Just for the record, I could growl now, too.
The instant I could see, my façade dropped as fast as my stomach. My jaw – and wings, for that matter – went slack at the sight of Douglas Davenport standing in the Summoning Circle. He threw his arms up, whooping. "Yes! I did it! I'm awesome!" He leaned forward, gesturing at me. "You look awesome!"
My eyes widened. Oh, God, no. No, no, no! This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Of all the people that had a chance of Summoning me, Douglas was the worst-case scenario. Summoning was like a mystic Triton App. Part of the words to get me into the Circle bound my will to the Summoner's. It was like I had chains around my wrists, for God's sake! If he ordered me to do something, I wouldn't have a choice, and he had to know that. The point of Summoning a demon was to get it to do stuff for you, after all.
Douglas rocked on his feet, a massive grin splitting his face as he crossed his arms. "So, how have you been?"
I snapped my jaw shut at that. "Are you serious?" My tail twitched on the floor as I narrowed my eyes at him. I had to buy time, to get him talking as I came up with an escape plan. I bared my teeth again in a low growl even as I wiped clammy hands on my dirty pants. "How did you do this?"
Douglas raised his chin, his arms still crossed as he straightened up and puffed out his chest. "I Summoned you. Duh."
I raised my hand, laying my ears back as I rolled my eyes. No shit, he Summoned me. I wouldn't be in a Circle otherwise. "I got that." I glanced between him and the floor, scanning the lines of the conjoined Circles. If there was even the slightest gap or wobble, I could bust out of there. The barrier that held me inside my half of the Circle would have a hole I could squeeze through. I had no idea how that would work out for me – would I end up right here still, back where I was, or in Otherworld? – but it was better than doing nothing. I couldn't just wait for him to start ordering things. I had no idea how that would turn out.
If you get out, burn him where he stands before you go.
I focused on him for a full second, pointing at myself with a scowl. "Nobody knew my name. How did you find it?"
Douglas' smile grew to the point where it wrinkled his eyes. "I spent a month searching for it." He leaned forward, chuckling as he did. His bracelets glittered in the light of the few candles that were still lit, undoubtedly silver. "You can find anything you want if you know the right imps to ask." He gave a slight bow, twirling his hand in a circle as he did. "Welcome to Casa del Davenport."
My stomach tied itself in knots as I finished my inspection of the lines. No mistakes that I could see. Please don't let me be stuck here. My chest started to ache as my heart pounded. I let myself filter through the planes I could see, my eyes darting around as I checked the barrier around my Circle for any imperfections.
I feel another explanation coming on! Imagine the world was an onion or something. When you peel off the top layer, you see the layer underneath it, right? Some extra hidden blemishes or something might be visible now. As you peel more layers away, you reveal more hidden things. Those world layers are called "planes," and demons can see them. I can see down to nine, myself, which was more than enough for me. The barrier surrounding me was invisible from planes one through four, but it was a translucent yellow wall around me from five on, extending from floor to ceiling. I turned a tight circle, looking the barrier up and down. All I needed was a hole, and I could get out.
This action was too bold for Douglas to miss. I heard him chuckle as I turned my back to him. "No, Chase, you're not getting out of there. I made sure." I looked back over my shoulder at him as he gestured around the room. "Stick around for a while. I broke out my good incense just for you." He crossed his arms again, the corner of his mouth pulled up in a half-smile. "It took me all night to mix."
I lowered my ears and turned towards him, biting my cheek. He had offered the perfect excuse for me to take a few deep breaths. If I calmed down, I could think. Under the sulfur I had raised was a mixture of scents, carried around the room on the smoke that rose from several bowls around us. Inside each was a lit piece of charcoal, the mix of plants and resin sprinkled generously on the briquette. I wrinkled my nose as my mental database separated and named the scents. "Rosemary, frankincense, and lavender?"
"And sulfur, now." Douglas made a show of waving his hand around in front of his face, fog twisting around his fingers. "It's drowning out my hard work."
I pinned my ears, curling my lip back to show my teeth again. "I happen to like sulfur." At least, it didn't bother me as much as it used to. The scents Douglas had used were ones I would have probably enjoyed before I changed. Now, though, they had a strange tang to them that just didn't work for me. It wasn't something I could explain well if I was honest. My taste had changed. That was the only thing I could say with confidence. To prove the point, I poured more energy into the brimstone smell.
Did I mention I could do that now? I could do that now. The fog, sulfur, and frost were nothing but sensory illusions. It was one of my new demon powers. I could use energy to create special effects. After a few planes, they were gone entirely. That was just fine by me, though, because Douglas could only see one plane, which meant he was stuck with the effects of my magnificent power. The only thing that was real was the fire I had generated around me. Fire was kind of my thing. It was the first power I had discovered when I changed, and it was on instinct. The hardwood floor under my feet would have a scorch mark forever.
It was a decent consolation for a few of my bionics cutting out.
Douglas wrinkled his nose at that. "I'm going to have to air this place out for a week now."
I flashed him a grin, leaning forward. "You're welcome." I glanced at one of the incense bowls again, smoothing out my shirt. "It's healthier than what you're burning, anyways."
Douglas let out a sigh, rolling his weight back onto one heel. His smile didn't reach his eyes anymore. Good. I wanted to be as inconvenient as possible if I was stuck there. I had a little mercy, though. I crossed my arms and allowed the frost and fog to fade away to conserve energy. I couldn't escape the Circle, so I needed to wait for an opportunity to act. Worst case scenario, I would have to do something Douglas ordered. Who knew how much energy that would take? I needed as much as I could get.
The sulfur remained, though.
Douglas' smile dropped away now as he watched me. He pulled in a breath, holding it for a second before he let it out. "You know, I could compel you to work with me, but it looks like it hurts." He nodded towards me, crossing his arms. "It would be a lot easier for you if you just cooperated."
I pinned my ears, narrowing my eyes. This couldn't be going anywhere good. "Cooperating would be…what, exactly?"
Douglas raised his hands, his palms out towards me. "I have a few questions. Like-"
"I'm not helping you attack my family," I growled, pointing at him. There was nowhere else his questions could be going. My tail lashed as I crossed my arms again. "You already have me here. I'm not helping you get anyone else."
Douglas flinched, looking down with drooping shoulders. The coward couldn't even meet my eyes after everything he did to us. "You didn't let me finish, kid. I have questions about demons, not the family." He looked up at last, raising a hand as he spoke with halting words. "I don't want to kidnap anybody this time. I don't even have access to the Triton App anymore, okay?" He turned his raised hand over, gesturing towards me. "I wouldn't bother trying to convince you to help if that was what I wanted. I'd just order you to do it. After that whole avalanche thing-"
The corner of my mouth twitched. "You deserved that."
Douglas crossed his arms again, scoffing. "The ice block was excessive."
I shrugged a shoulder, digging my nails into my arm. "The kidnapping, the Triton App, and Krane were excessive."
Douglas looked down again, nodding. He pointed at me, shaking his finger before dropping it to his side with a sigh, then drawing it up to cross his arms again. I perked my ears up towards him, just waiting for the excuse. I already had counters for the few I could come up with. I wasn't on the debate team for Mission Creek High for no reason!
It was a moment before Douglas spoke again. He seemed to be hugging himself, almost. I watched him through narrowed eyes as he looked up, breathing in as he closed his eyes. "I know. I messed up." My eyes widened for a split second as he watched me. "Look, I don't want to hurt you or your family, okay? I wouldn't have saved you from Krane if I wanted that."
I didn't have an answer for that right away. There was a kernel of truth in his words. I bit my lip, careful not to draw blood with my fangs as I did. There was every possibility that he was lying right now. I shifted my weight, the tip of my tail flicking against the floor.
Douglas gestured towards me again, not waiting for me to respond. "Besides, you wouldn't be the best source for that. You haven't been home in, what, three months?"
Three months, two days, seven hours, twenty-nine minutes, and fifty-four seconds, to be exact, but who's counting? I pressed my lips into a thin line. "How do you know that?"
Douglas shrugged a shoulder. "Eddy's easy to hack."
"Still stalking us, then?"
A smile ghosted across Douglas' face for just a second. "Not as closely as I used to. I just like seeing what you guys get up to when I have some downtime." He let his hands drop to his sides at last. "It's how I learned that I could Summon you. Good thing I did, too." He looked me up and down, the smile fading away as his brow wrinkled. "I can see your ribs through your shirt."
I ducked my chin and tugged at the hem of my shirt, my thumb poking through a hole. "Don't worry about it." I could take care of myself. The last person I needed fussing over me was Douglas.
Douglas gestured at me again, giving his head a slight shake. "You can't expect me not to worry about that." He crossed his arms again, letting out a breath. "Why did you run? It can't have been easy out there."
I crossed my arms, holding my biceps as I focused on one of the still-lit candles. That question wasn't an easy one to answer. "I mean, look at me." I rocked back-and-forth on my heels, swallowing. "I'm a demon. A monster. I don't want to hurt anybody."
Douglas knit his brow together, his voice equally quiet. "But you're not a monster. You're part of a species that has existed since before time began. You're amazing. I mean, how many bionic djinn are out there? You're one of a kind. Hell, you're perfect."
I told you.
My eyes snapped back to him, searching his face. That smile - I couldn't read that smile. It seemed so genuine, like he hadn't heard me at all. Wasn't he listening? "Look, I have an instinct that says to kill and destroy. How is that not something a monster would have?"
Douglas frowned at that. He tilted his head and rubbed his chin for a second. "Do you act on it?"
You should.
I shifted my weight again, focusing on an incense brazier this time. My tail started to twitch as I shook my head. "Well, no." I could ignore it if I wanted to. "But Spike wouldn't." I glanced at him again. "And what if that little voice takes over someday? I could kill somebody."
Douglas shifted his weight onto one leg, raising one hand in a shrug. "It's been three months. Wouldn't it have taken over already if it could?"
I laid my ears back, letting my eyes drift to the wall behind him. He had a point there.
"Is that voice why you ran?"
Technically, yes, it was. I hesitated for a second, nibbling my lip again before I nodded. I let out a hissing sigh, focusing on him again. "If it wasn't for your stupid machine, this wouldn't have happened."
Ah, yes, the Daven-demon Portal, an invention designed to open a hole into the Otherworld. Created by two college kids by the name of Donald and Douglas Davenport, it was the thing that set my whole demonic adventure in motion.
His hands went up, palms towards me as he let out a laugh. "Hey, you're the one that made it work. It could have just gone back into storage to gather dust, but no." He pointed at me with a grin. "You just had to mess with it."
And Christ, did I regret it. I lowered my ears, crossing my arms again.
"And I don't think that's the only reason you stayed away." Douglas let one hand drop, gesturing up and down towards me with the other. "Were you worried they would hate you or something, now? Or was it because they treated you like you didn't matter? Was that it?"
I fidgeted again, my chest tightening. I didn't like the way that rang bells for me. He hit the nail on the head. He knew. My tail twitched as he let the silence drag on between us. I shifted my weight onto one heel, looking at the wall behind him again as I muttered, "They didn't even look for me."
Douglas didn't say anything. He let the silence spread between us, let heartbeats fill the space behind my words.
I focused on him again, growling even as my eyes stung. "There weren't even missing kid posters or an Amber Alert or something. I didn't even see a search party." My tail was lashing now as I swatted at the air, my ears pinned. "It's like they wanted me gone."
A soft smile tugged at the corner of Douglas' lips. "Well, you could stay-"
I hunched my shoulders up, crossing my arms again as my stomach flipped. "No." Nothing good could come from that kind of offer from him. Sure, he saved us from Krane, but that didn't negate everything he did.
Douglas held his hands up towards me, sighing. "Okay, okay. I could Dismiss you, then, if you want to struggle on your own out there."
I didn't know where that struggle would be taking place. I might wind up in Otherworld and have to find my bearings in a new dimension. I might end up on a random point on Earth. Having my foot in two worlds was confusing. I glared at him, rolling my weight back onto one heel. "Then Dismiss me already."
Douglas chuckled and raised a finger. "Not so fast. I have questions, remember? Answer those, and I'll let you go, no strings attached."
You're a demon. Everything has strings attached.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Except the string where you can Summon me again." That would always be a possibility.
Douglas grinned. "Yeah, but I'd still let you go for a while."
I pressed my tongue into my cheek, weighing my options. I could cooperate, or he could make me cooperate. He said as much earlier. Did I want to test that bluff? I drew myself up to my full height, watching him. "These questions are about demons, right? Not my family?"
Douglas' eyes lit up. "Just about demons, yeah." He spun around and bent over, scooping up a legal pad and pen before turning back to me with a grin. "I tried asking other demons, but they can't explain things in a way I can understand. You, though" - he pointed at me with his pen- "had to learn how it works for yourself. It wasn't instinctive knowledge."
That made as much sense as anything. I pressed my lips into a thin line but sat down on the floor. I might as well get comfortable if I was going to be here for a while. Wrapping my tail around myself, I sighed and let the sulfur scent fade away. "Fine. What demon questions?"
It took a few hours to get through Douglas' questions. The man started broad and narrowed things down as I explained them. He took notes like crazy, filling page after page with what I had figured out about essence, planes, shifting forms, energy and its limits, so on and so forth. He was thorough as all hell, even going so far as to speculate with me on things I didn't have an absolute grasp on. It was an intelligent conversation, and I hadn't had one of this caliber in months.
I would be lying if I said I didn't warm up to him just a little bit.
The thing about Douglas was that he made his enthusiasm to talk to me clear. My intelligence and lengthy explanations were appreciated, not ridiculed or ignored. He understood that he was having a conversation with an intellectual equal, and I was here for it. Not to mention that he often had something witty or amusing to say, which kept things interesting.
As for me, I was more than surprised to find that this was fun. Sue me, the attention was nice. He even went so far as to point out that he thought my demonic physique was incredible a few times, which was a boost that I didn't know I needed. It was amazing to have someone building me up instead of tearing me down. In fact, the longer the conversation went on, the more often I found myself smiling. It was like a weight lifted from my shoulders, making it easier to breathe. Hell, I even purred a few times. I had no idea I could make that sound. I had hisses, growls, snarls, and even roars discovered, which should have meant that my vocal cords couldn't produce a purr.
Demons weren't members of the Felidae family, though. I guessed the physiology would be different.
The incense burned out, the remaining candle flames sputtered at the bottom of the holders before we reached the end, and that might not have been about him running out of questions. I didn't know how Douglas could see well enough to write anything anymore. I was struggling, and I had better vision than him. You know, bionic senses. Douglas himself was squinting at the pad, holding it inches away from his face until he lowered the pad with a heavy sigh. His eyes settled on me as he set the pad on the floor beside him. "I should've turned the light on before I called you here." He glanced at the walls. "Or picked a room with a window."
I flicked an ear, cocking my head at him. "You could turn it on now." That would be ideal. If he stepped out of the Circle without preparing himself or binding me further, I would be free to go. As far as I was concerned, I had been sitting in that Circle for too long, anyways. My back ached, and I had things to do before night fell. According to my internal clock, I only had a couple of hours until that happened.
Douglas pointed at me, letting out a laugh. "Oh, no, you don't. I'm not stupid."
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth now. "Worth a shot."
Douglas slapped his hands down on his knees, then uncrossed his legs. "All right, I get it. You want out of there." He pressed a hand to the floor so he could stand, his joints popping as he did. He had been in one spot too long, too.
I hopped up to my feet with more grace than he did. I mean, I was younger. I had a natural advantage. I smoothed out my shirt, my ears perking up towards him. "You're going to Dismiss me now, right?"
Douglas nodded, waving at me. "Yep. Just give me a minute."
I perked my ears up, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I didn't know where I'd end up, but a familiar gnawing in my gut gave me my evening plans. I'd have to find dinner first. I'd probably end up begging or digging through a dumpster again. I didn't have just a ton of energy to work with right then. I could steal, but that took more effort. Then, I'd have to find a place to stay for the night.
Unless I wound up in Otherworld, in which case, I'd be in for a culture shock, I guessed.
Unless….
Douglas crouched down, raising his arms to shoulder level with his palms open towards me. I didn't doubt that this was just for show. He steeled himself with a breath, then nodded at me. "Okay, kid. You ready?"
The wheels turned in my head as a new possibility presented itself. It would probably break every demonic law out there, but it was an excellent option from a tactical standpoint. I needed a steady supply of food and a roof over my head, after all. If I just kept an eye on things-
What's wrong with you?
I laid my ears back and raised my hand as Douglas opened his mouth to speak. "Wait!"
Douglas frowned and dropped his arms, straightening up. "You know, interrupting a Summoner-"
"Is dangerous, I know." It wasn't dangerous for me – him messing up wouldn't hurt me one bit – but it was a massive risk for him. Messing up was how demons got out to attack somebody. "I just…." I let my hand drop. "Did you mean it earlier? When you said I could stay?" If he was just going to Summon me again, I might as well stay. As long as I watched Douglas, things should be fine, right?
A grin broke across Douglas' face, his eyes lighting up. "You sure?"
I raised a finger, tilting my head. "One condition, though. You have to let my will go. Is that possible?"
Douglas rested a hand on his chest, raising his chin. "Of course, it's possible. Look who you're talking to."
I rolled my eyes, leaning forward. "Then can I stay?" It would be fantastic if I could get off the streets for a while.
Douglas held up a finger, crouching down again. What a showman. I braced myself as he started to speak. I only understood a few of the words, but most were in a language that wasn't in my database. It was in the Semitic family. Aramaic, I think? It sounded similar to that - I could even translate a couple of words - so it might have been a dialect that was lost to history. I didn't know if Douglas even knew what he was saying, but it didn't matter as the magic barrier around my Circle surged, then faded away.
Kill him! He didn't use any protection spells!
The sensation of having my will bound to his faded away like manacles fell from my wrists. My eyes widened at that. He seriously did it. He just let a bionic djinni loose in his home without setting up any protection for himself. I could just incinerate him and move on with my day.
And don't say I didn't because I'm too sweet. I am not sweet. I am the shadows of hell. I haunt nightmares. I kick puppies and eat babies.
Not really.
But don't call me sweet! Demons aren't sweet, I tells ya!
Douglas stepped out of his Circle, clearing his throat before gesturing at me with a chuckle. "There you go."
You'd be doing yourself a favor if you killed him.
I pinned my ears, rubbing my eyes for a second. How? I would lose a place to stay.
He's evil. He talks to demons.
I'm a demon, genius. Douglas talking to demons was how I got here in the first place. He ran in circles that overlapped mine, no pun intended.
He doesn't appreciate you. He just wants a slave.
Yet I have my free will. Imagine that.
Just kill him already! The voice was losing its temper. He's nothing but a mortal who was stupid enough to Summon you at all!
The little shit was all over the place. I shook my head to dispel it and stepped out of my Circle at last, my tail swishing. Douglas twitched back as I approached, the dim candlelight shrouding us both in shadow. Even my sensitive eyes couldn't detect many details until I was right upon him. He reached up, resting a shaking hand on my shoulder as I finally saw just how pale he was. My ears perked up at that. He was worried I would charge him.
I grinned. I would be lying if I said some part of me didn't appreciate the respect.
Douglas blew out a breath, smiling at me. Stepping to the side, he gestured towards the door behind him. "Welcome home, Chasey."
