Chapter 11: Reunion
After half an hour, Annia and Daemon were ready to go. This put them at around eight in the evening and Danny knew his parents would be getting angry.
"Ready?" Danny asked as he footsteps on the stairs. He turned and gaped at what he saw. Annia was wearing a skin tight, black jumpsuit than shone in the light. A zipper went from her collarbone down to about past where her navel would be. Her hair was pulled back but clipped with the silver clasp. She had her bells around her waist and a medallion in her hands.
"Yep." She said and walked past him. He turned and watched her and heard the click of her heels against the tile floor in the entranceway.
"You look like a spy." Danny remarked as he went to stand next to her. "What's the medallion and outfit for?" Annia gave him a half smile and shoved the medallion over her head. The silver chain glittered in the light but the red gem seemed dull.
"You'll find out soon enough." She sighed. Danny was about to remark before he felt Daemon walk up behind him. He turned and found the Guardian in his normal attire but without the trench coat. Daemon flexed his wings briefly, almost as if he was nervous.
"Not going inconspicuous anymore?" Danny asked.
"No need." Daemon responded. Before another word was uttered, Annia opened the door and a chilled breeze came in.
"Let's go." She muttered and began the descent to the sidewalk.
Once they reached Danny's house, Annia and Daemon grew quiet. No one had been on the streets and noticed the odd trio. Which was good since Daemon was constantly flexing his wings.
"Okay, I'll go first and we'll just push by them to the basement." Danny said as they reached the stairs leading to his front door. Annia nodded but made no other attempt to agree or disagree.
"Okay, this is it." Danny whispered. They all bolted up the stairs and through the door. Danny's parents saw them and tried to question him but they continued onward.
"HeyguysthisisAnniaandDaemon,we'regoingtothebasementokaybye." Danny said hurriedly as they descended down the stairs. When they reached the lab, Annia let out a small moan. Danny noticed that through the closed doors, light was pushing through.
"He's coming." Annia said, her voice was hardly audible. Danny nodded and then turned back to her. Again he gaped at what he saw. Annia had transformed into an older woman. She looked like the "mother" he had met earlier.
"Annia?" Danny asked. Annia flicked her eyes over to Danny from the portal but only briefly.
"I'm twenty-three Danny." She said. Danny, confused, turned back to the portal.
"Be alert!" Daemon exclaimed.
"He's pushing through!" Annia cried. Suddenly, the portal's doors flew open and light streamed through at a blinding intensity. Annia and Danny put their arms up to shield their eyes. But as the light dimmed, a malevolent voice began laughing. Danny, trying to ignore the fear that crept around his spine and clawed at his heart, looked toward the sound. He gasped as he saw a towering black figure stooped down to pass through the portal.
The figure's broad shoulders caught briefly in the portal before the edges gave way and bent. The figure then stood at its full height, which Danny guessed was around ten feet, and laughed again. The laugh shook the house and Danny heard the screams above him. He also heard his parents banging on the door but figured it was locked.
"Takune." Annia hissed. The figure moved its head till it fixed whatever gaze it had on Annia.
"Annia." The figure greeted. Its voice was low and caused the house to shake and a few glasses to shatter. Annia and Danny winced in pain at the low decibels the voice went. The figure paused before swirling into a black cloud. It shrunk but then took the semblance of a six-foot tall man. The shadow solidified and actually took on features.
"Is this pleasurable for you?" The figure asked now, his voice mocking.
"Perfect." Annia snarled.