The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Book I: War
Tanneth had trouble seeing the road a head of him. The visibility of the roads of Eastern Russia had quickly become worse than what he had to endure in the frozen tundra in Makai. The snow was starting to become too thick. Moving was quickly becoming more difficult the further on he pushed. He had little sense of where he was going. Better to leave that till later and try to find cover from the storm and all the attention that had been aroused the day before then. The display that was put on was hard for even the most sound sleepers not to here and the fury of fire balls that shot from the red halo made the entire world of demons bounty hunter and humans know of a strange occurrence, a mysterious traveler, and a child science masterpiece. Though the results of that were very bad, and getting more dangerous for him by the minute at that time, the other choice was by comparison far worse. It was amazing for Tanneth to think that he was so worried about Sincion finding him and if he had never betrayed and came to St. Petersburg the entire universe may have been reduced back into the plank length by a giant gravity well, including the very concept of life ending permanently. All of this caused by the sever misjudgment of a dominion who seemed to have perished long ago. Most likely he was found by one of the dominions many sub-sects and killed in some unimaginable way. Tanneth thought of whom is might have been, but of course there was no way for him to tell or anyone for that matter.
Tanneth stumbled slightly over a small rock that was concealed in the snow. He cursed at himself softly as to not let his traveling companion hear. Just in politeness. It was not proper for mature dominion to give any foul and explicit word to each other. They were viewed mainly as useless, only used by the adolescents. Skyler kept on walking pushing here none white wolf cubs along making sure they didn't become lost in the snow and end up freezing to death. That was hard enough since cubs in their gentle nature and tendencies were very playful and even in the cold would try to play with Tanneth as her pushed on very difficultly through the snow.
Tanneth was moving much slower than he would have liked. The experience of crimson lightning flashing through his body had drained him of most of whatever energy he had after the long flight to St. Petersburg. He had been in several situations where he had been shot with the same energy but he could never get used to it, most dominion would die from it. He knew somehow he had a genetic advantage over most of his own kind. It was how he was able to kill the Master and how he was able to survive as a commando in the outer reaches of space for the time he did. For that reason he lived through those kinds of energy surges. He wondered how the boy he was carrying survived though and with most of his mental state intact. The boy was a true hybrid of a human and a dominion. The cross between the two was thought to be impossible; then again the subject was largely ignored by the whole of the Dominion. Tanneth thought, then if he had to guess the human race was the most closely related to his own race than any demon or alien specie they had encountered before and the humans were much younger than the majority of races, by far in some cases. There were cases where Tanneth had heard of some talented humans using there spirit energy which is for over ninety nine point nine percent of all humans was nothing more than creative fiction for fantasy novels. He knew their spirit to be strong and most likely stronger than demonic energy. He thought it to not be any rival or danger to dominion power. Then the later night the reaction of the two sent him fleeing from the majestic city of St. Petersburg to the icy roads of East Russia to try and find shelter to hide from Sincion's bounty.
Sincion would truly have seen the reaction with his prescience as with much of the other dominion factions and sub-federations would likely also turn some attention to that planet. Also the sub-sects of the old Contingency still were active in the underground of the demon and perhaps even the human world. Tanneth couldn't know for sure. The scenario was grim. If any of the old war-hawks of the dominion grew anxious of a potential human threat, he would have the entire universe focusing its muscle on claiming this world. The end for all humans it would be, Tanneth could be sure.
Tanneth had always stepped back at one point to admire the beauty of the places he had been, and he had been to many. Earth, the human world was blessed place much like the Proxi in the old regions of the Dominion. Tanneth set aside the urban cities they had built in considering that place. A world with evergreen forests, bright blue oceans, and snow-white mountains was something that wasn't true on all planets. In all his years the worlds either were cold and icy or humid with a non-stop greenhouse effect. While he had seen many worlds most of his and the rest of the dominions spent their time in ships or fortresses.
The face of Earth would change dramatically if the Dominion turned their eyes to it. Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Helium, Iron, Titanium, all were raw materials which the dominion could exploit to too many cause top count. Not just the third planet but all of planets including the star would likely be stripped of their elements and feed as fuel to the still hunger of the ever searching dominion. Tanneth knew of only a small percentage of the whole of what they would use all the matter of that solar system for. It was one more reason not to let Sincion have his way.
The next were not holding much promise for Tanneth or Skyler. He could expect any sort of mercenary to be very close to him at that time. He could also expect some tough fighting a head of him, not that he had any chance of losing but it would delay him and limit his options.
Truth of the matter was that Tanneth was in an intricate situation. With the trail closed to him on both sides he had to find someway to keep his travel companions from death. Never a thought of his danger came into his mind. He only is in jeopardy if Argon was finally freed of his lease or a sub-sect decided to find him personally.
He had most to fear from Argon. He knew Tanneth best and was the most skilled commander of Warlock's hammer. Old fears came back to him when Sincion and he were hunted by him. He remembered the time on the ledge when he first tried to kill the Master when he was away from all his security. It was bold and stupid move for him but it did end up in Argon joining Kyra in getting him out of another dilemma. The thought was disheartening so he dismissed it and focused on climbing a sort hill in the road. The snow had become even heavier while he pondered the danger for his small band and the half breed dominion he carried on his shoulders.
Tanneth and Skyler traveled on the road for another two hours, before they found an inn to stop. Tanneth paid for the room with money he found in the kid's pocket. He wasn't going to stay long he just needed to sleep for a sort time. He laid the kid on the bed and sat on the floor next to it; leaning is head against the side.
"Rest is well deserved for the both of us," he said flatly.
The nine cubs all ran in frenzy, climbing over each other trying to get in before Skyler. Flame was one of the first coming in first to kick Tanneth's face. He brushed the pup away who then climbed onto the top of the bed and paid attention to the young boy's hair.
Skyler stumbled in and sank to the floor as well. "I think I would rather have been killed in that explosion. I'm tired," she nearly fell asleep as she replied.
I just need some time to recover lost energy. I won't be out long, but just so know we are in very much of a crises." He cringed as put pressure on his wounded shoulder. "I will need o talked to you and him when I wake. While this weather may provide some protection, tell your….your nine friends to watch for me eh?"
"I'm glad you seem to trust me now."
Tanneth didn't wait to here her reply he was already in deep sleep.
Chen saw it for a second then it went silent and dark. He didn't know where he was. He couldn't see anything; it was completely dark save for a faint glimmer that came in and out of his sight. He was consumed by a lonely calm. The driving forces that that seemed to be tearing his body to pieces no longer raged and shouted in him. He was in a serenity which he wanted to leave.
The glimmer came closer and closer to him. He thrashed about the silence to seize it. Like a butterfly in and open field it flew around him. He turned and turned trying to keep it in his sight. It was only light there. He stretched out his arms and his legs and hit nothing. It was like he was in freefall away from gravity and wind. Nothing hit him nothing spoke to him. All the screams and shouts and the clawing or creatures he couldn't see had stopped. He was lost then.
He twisted around half swimming and walking trying to get to the faint glimmer of golden light. It wasn't malign, like the others which had plagued him. The red and the blue no longer flew about him. Chen didn't know why but this he needed.
It came close and turned at right moment; he saw the body of the golden dragon. It flew out away from him, then slowly turned about and came toward him.
The aura wrapped around him and the cold left. He felt and warmth and peace of mind again. The darkness finally gave way and he began to see once again.
Chen's opened slowly to se a pair of dark ones starring back at him. He tried to rise and heard a small bark and he laid his head back down. He saw the dog though it wasn't dog t was a small wolf standing on his chest. It looked at with a puzzled expression not knowing what to make of the new human you might say. It tilted its head one side to the other trying to make something of him. It sniffed Chen's nose and then licked his forehead. Chen had enough of the small dog and slowly eased off him.
Chen sat up on the soft bed wondering what hell he had been through his very bad dream. He thought back and visions of a hospital and strange creatures everywhere came to his mind. Then thoughts of pain deep pain he remembered. It had to be dream. He wasn't demon anyway. At least not a demon like those he had dreamed up. He shuddered at the thought of them.
He put his feet down on the hard wood floor. Where was he? He wasn't in any hospital. Last he remembered being on the ground in some all. How did I get here? He walked tow steps then stopped as he saw a girl sleeping on the floor with eight other small wolves with her. She seemed familiar oddly though he could remember her being one of the girls in the group. She must have, and he must have forgotten. Had she taken him from the hospital to that hotel room? He didn't want here to be in any trouble. He slowly went to the door. He only made a few steps before he stopped.
His eyes had drifted to the side of the bed he had been laid. There he saw a man sleeping. He saw the dark hair spike up in a style he had never seen before. Much like his own but slightly different. He knew him. He remembered fighting him. He remembered appearing with a huge blue hawk running with him. He was just sleeping! Nothing abnormal was about him. He crept down to his knees beside him. They looked alike their faces were very similar, save for he was a few years older by the appearance.
Chen put out his hand to wake. His fingers gripped the shoulder. The material the clothing was made out of seemed metallic. It had a give like chain mail save for that was completely solid. He shook him once and heard the sound of a blade scraping against its sheathe. He saw the fierce blue of the man. Hey were like his as well. He looked down at his throat and saw the point of a knife. How….?
Tanneth held the knife close to whoever was holding him. He always had to be careful to at least see the person before he killed them. As his eyes caught up to his arm he saw the boy whom he had brought. He shoved the boy up against the wall and rose from his sleeping position. He had gotten maybe five hours worth of rest he guessed. His muscles were still very tight from the shock of the lightning. Tanneth stretched out his back and arms. He retracted his knife and groaned while cracking his neck.
The boy was against the wall in a state of shock. His eyes didn't blink and he followed Tanneth's every movement. "In case you are wondering how I am so fast and how I have that kind of strength I will tell you later. At this time there are much better questions you should be asking me, and….believe me when I say that I have no time to spare for any side interests you may have. Let me begin by telling you my name. It is Tanneth. I am what is called a dominion as you are as well. Now who are you?" Tanneth's questioning was meant to get rid of the shock that was plain in Chen's eyes.
Chen heard every word of it; still he took some moments to answer it. "I am…..I'm Chen Shin, and……I think I remember fighting you in an alley."
"Yes. You were so to speak. You will remember seeing monsters, beats with wings? Yes?"
"Yeah. It was a bloody nightmare. I was loosing your mind."
"…and your life. You're bound to have questions now that you don't know how to ask. I'll try to cover everything. I am soldier of race of beings who once controlled all of space. We ruled as the greatest race for countless eons and during that time we developed several ways of using energy. You have heard the law of the conservation of force?"
Chen knew it but by a different name, "Yeah, I have."
"Then you know energy is never lost it just changes in to different forms of itself. Using mechanics of the smallest partials we learned ways of keeping energy from changing. Therefore creating a lasting source of power. As time went on our knowledge grew and grew. So that we would evolve faster and past procedures would never have to be done again, we wrought much of that energy into our consciousness. You see very being has a sort of conscious energy. In other words their spirit energy. Humans have this, so as do demons. When two species are crossed with each other the two energies merge with each other. Sometimes the merge is benign, however with dominion, our life force because of our…enhances is incompatible with others of different races."
"So that wasn't a dream all the things I saw were real. All the light was spirit energy!?"
"Chen Shin, you are a hybrid of one my kind and human. Why you lived beyond infancy shows a lack of judgment on the part of what ever sub-sect killed the one conceived you. But what happened was a temporal confusion of the energy you shouldn't have. Because of your mother the universe was nearly set into a paradox. What you saw we call ghasts. They are creatures that are made of different than you and me. They were drawn to you by the reactions of the dominion soul in you. Be glad that I failed to kill you, for it is what I should have done."
"I don't care about you Tanneth. Thank you saving me, but you say that I am abomination. You have no God given right to insult my family!" Chen was angry.
"Look, Chen Shin. You are supposed to be dead, sad but true. I saved you by using a power stone that is worth much more to me in my hand not in your heart. I saved you because I care about the universe and the apocalypse I never want to see." Tanneth stopped to try to get back to the point he wanted make. "You are a half breed because of that you will not be tolerated by my race."
Skyler had awaken and stood by the door. "Inside your heart Chen is very valuable item. Because of that you cannot die, and there fore you must promise that where ever you decide to go you don't get your self killed."
Chen was filled with questions. He did not completely understand the conversation which had just taken place. Dominion, and demons, humans, and dominion, these still he did not understand what they meant. Looking into the eyes of this Tanneth, he knew it was the cold truth of him, but what was he going to do. The old cliché he was in over his head was apropos to the situation. After a long wait of starring at the crossings of the wooden dreams that made the floor Chen spoke, "A while ago, I discovered I was stronger faster and smarter than any other human. That I could best even the strongest wrestler and out distance the greatest runner. For a long time I was afraid to try, because I thought it was some disease or something that was wrong with me, it has only been recently that I had felt other than a man."
"It is because your two halves were maturing and the genetic information began to change which normally would allow you to use all your traits that you have inherited from your father. But you didn't have the maternal counterpart to silence the raging force which began to grow."
"When my traits first began to appear I also had several, I guess they were heart attacks. Is the reason for them because of the unbalanced energy you claim is in me?"
"Partly, the rest is from what the Master had done to us in the last eras of our rein," Tanneth spoke it as though it was common knowledge.
"Who is 'the Master'," asked Chen?
Tanneth waited a moment before he replied, "It is complicated, something I will have to tell you later."
"I'd like to know too Tanneth."
He looked up to see Skyler with the same impression as Chen. He had never mentioned the Master to her. It was not something he enjoyed sharing. Of course the subject never came to his attention. "Some other time when there is more time to share."
"Tanneth," he turned around to see Chen starring him face to face, "what item did you put in my heart. You used it to save me from…exploding or something, and it saved me from those ghasts you speak off. What is it?"
The room was silent. The stone was something everyone wanted to know more about. Tanneth himself was still mystery to Skyler and the race he claimed he was apart of was never truly explained to her.
"The stone is what is called a plank length reducer. In side the containment is the pull and drive of uncounted singularities. In other words inside there is the power of massive what you call a black hole, because of that it can power any machine with nearly unlimited energy. It also could be the cataclysm of the apocalypse. You see it has the power to rearrange matter, all matter. You may even be able to bring back the dead. Which is why I took it," Tanneth turned his fierce blue yes back to Chen. "What it is going inside you is reconstructing your mind and human half, perhaps even your father's half. Understand that I don't know what will happen to you."
"So I am being reconstructed by some rock?"
"In a manner."
It was as if he had just been inserted with all jewels in Britain's Royal Family. This was something he had never thought would happen. He was just a thief whom then had the most valuable item in the universe had it was perfectly hidden inside his body.
Chen kept his eyes low while he thought. It was surreal. He thought he was still in a dream but he knew he wasn't he knew Tanneth was telling the truth. Something inside him just seemed to accept while his body shuddered at it, or was that just the sphere just rearranging his body composition? A black hole in side his heart. With every pump every beat there was energy beyond what he could imagine in his mind. He felt afraid of it. What if he did get caught and was killed what would happen then. Tanneth made it very clear if he died time wasn't going to be time anymore.
Chen brought his eyes back up. At first glance Tanneth was normal, but when Chen took a close look, he saw the rough body type and the large shoulders. He eyes were compound navy blue as they were examined closely. Tanneth was the same as Chen. He lost all his doubt then. The only other question was where he was going to go and what could he possibly do to survive.
"If this is true," Chen began.
Tanneth stood up from the bed he had been sitting.
"If this is all true, where am I going to go?"
"That is what I have been thinking about. You are not really safe anywhere, especially here. I will give a choice and the choice will go for you too Skyler, I can no longer risk having travelers with me. You can both leave into the snow and find some place to settle in a remote area. Or…."
Tanneth waited a long time for the two to consider the first choice, for he himself dreaded the second.
"….or I will open a door to Makai, the demon world. There I implore you to seek out a Praetor named Warlock."
"…and he will help me?"
"Maybe, or he may kill you. He is the wisest and the most reasonable left in our ranks. He will be in a place called Sentinel. I will give a device, it will help you find it and grant you access to enter it. Though if go into Makai, Skyler, you cannot go looking for the city."
"Because they will kill me?"
Tanneth put his hands on his head as if he had a major headache. This was not going to end well for him. The worlds were now bent on this boy's young lick and inexperience with demons. He had power, he would most likely live for a while but he asks too many questions one of the sub-sects will pick him and kill him very quickly. This was the greatest risk he was going to take. Everything rode on one hybrid dominion, and Argon was not going to be far behind him.
One could wonder if the world was ending or if it was just being itself.
Kevin had to wonder about the day that had gone by. Or rather the night that had gone by. In his entire life he had seen many strange things happen, including some of the most horrific creatures crawl out of some of the most disgusting things he would ever care to see. This wasn't that though. Something that seemed to be unrelated to him at last had happened. He could only wonder who had caused it. Must have been a powerful demon, maybe this character that everyone seems to want is somewhere near. He considered going after him, but with a display like that it probably would best for him not to. He had several run-ins with demons with those kind of powers they never went well and he of course barely gets out with his life.
The last few times had come too close for his own comfort. A run with a small band of shadow demons that were in quite a hurry to go somewhere, ended with is arm nearly blasted off. Then his fight with a certain band of rebels made him limp for a week after. He never liked to but he had to be more cautious of what errands he was going to take up. Every time he had any "encounter" it always ended with someone holding a grudge on him. He always tried to pick the good side of the problem but where ever he was someone anted him dead.
Still even with his extensive list of people who did not like him and his knowledge of powerful demons who couldn't land anyone that could make monsters form of out of a red halo in the sky.
Kevin's day had begun with him expecting be out of Russia by the next day. He was pushing his limits by speeding away from police on his motorcycle and flooring sown the highway. He didn't expect to have to stop at St. Petersburg. He had plenty of fuel for his bike and he didn't really need to eat. As soon as he cleared a small hill he saw the red glow over the horizon and what was a circle of red lightning in the sky. He watched as he approached but didn't slow down. It stayed there for several minutes. Kevin remembered distant thunder as he came closer to the city. He twisted the accelerator, and kicked the bike to 150 kilometers per hour, nearly smacking himself o on the side of a rig on a wide turn when he loosed focus. The halo had grown bright and what appeared to be meteors fired out of the thing when it exploded. He slowed down then and watched them fly. There were so many he didn't see the one that ended up stranding him in St. Petersburg.
It had shot high and took some time to enjoy the view before it came down. He was still moving on his bike though dumbfounded by the impressive display of fire he had every seen. He saw one that didn't seem to be moving he looked at for only a second before his gaze was caught again by a recently formed one. He finally realized the danger and pulled a hard right. The meteor hit the ground only some dozen feet from his motorcycle. The flames were intensely hot. His tires caught fire and his gas tank exploded effectively stopping him from moving.
As if the meteor wasn't enough a winged demon which looked to be made of fire arouse from it. It dived at Kevin trying to impale him huge claws. The flames didn't bother him that much, being half fire demon, and he quickly got in close sinking his blood sword, Glamdring, into the beast's heart or what ever it had. While he was worried about all the other ones that had flown out of that halo he had little ability to travel. It took nearly two hours for him to wheel his bike over to St. Petersburg.
Surprisingly though his gas tank had exploded his bike wasn't damage that bad. He was told it wouldn't take more than few hours to put in a new gas tank if the incentive was right. The money he was going to have to pay for his bike was not satisfying since he didn't have whole lot to throw around for repairs but he needed it fixed quickly. It would take more money of him to stay in St. Petersburg for a few days than to pay for a quick and hopefully well done repair on his bike. He still wasn't happy about it.
He went into a nearby bar and though he looked not old enough to drink he still was able to get access into the place by his own means. The place was more of a retreat for him than it was to get a drink. He just wanted a place where he could just think of what he was going to do and get away from the sudden cold that had come in. He had hopped to be in slightly warmer climates by the end of the week but hat idea seemed to be out the window then. He had a few drinks while he pondered the situation.
I am fucked! Why the hell do I always have the bad luck? My bike got trashed I almost got killed, twice, and I going be down big time in terms of my economic state. Maybe if catch the guy who did that there will be something in it?
It was just a thought for him but he had been hearing a lot about his phantom demon that apparently pissed off some big shots in Makai and was on the run for a huge bounty. All that and none of the demons he talked to knew his name. It was strange occurrence but not one that he had not heard of before. The only thing he had to think about was the light show. If he did that it meant he was nearby, but also that meant he was incredibly powerful. Maybe too much for him to handle, it was not likely. Kevin was as tough as they come, even though he was only half demon. The detective Urameshi had even less demonic blood in him than he had and he was the most feared man in the human world, save for maybe this knew guy, whoever he was.
While the prospects seemed promising he wasn't going to. His situation was as complicated as he wanted it to get.
He waited in the bar for some hours, occasionally ordering a drink so the bar tender didn't get fed up with him taking up space. He dismissed the idea of going after the shadowy demon and decided he would focus on how he would get to Italy. He had already spent nearly a year wandering Russia taking up jobs were his skills would be needed. A change in scenery was in order for him. He wanted to see the Mediterranean Sea and perhaps even take a swim in its waters. It was just a fantasy he had a few mouths back and he wanted to actually do it. One his bike was fixed he still had thousands of kilometers to go before he would even get into Italy. It also meant he would have to go through over seven countries. It would be much more of a hassle than running around Russia, but he had evaded the border patrol many times before, just not in so many countries.
Traveling was always a bit of a problem for Kevin. Since he wasn't actually a citizen of any particular country he could never really board any planes that would take him anywhere. He had managed to seek his bike aboard some military aircraft but it was a big hassle getting out of range of their machines guns when he got to his stop. Ship was the best for him to get around, and since Italy was peninsula it was ideal for him to get to Africa, not that he would ever want to go there.
Despite his longing to get out the frozen land of Russia, Kevin had enjoyed his ride through the country, and a long ride that was. He had perhaps some of the most intense battles so far in his sort career, but he had to expand his business of a warrior for hire else where in the world in order to make a nice profit for himself. Italy had some promise for that but the neighboring nations had more promise of demons to slay and runaways to find.
His skill had improved greatly over he passed year. He had no one to lean so to say thus he had to rely on his power and endurance alone to save his own life when in desperate situations though he had come close to not making it out a few times as was pointed out earlier.
The snow storm outside began o get ore heavy and Kevin wondered if he would be able to get out of the city then. He had equipped his bike for ice on the roads but if they are snowed over that won't make such a difference, and it was easy to carry his bike out in a blizzard. He buried his head in his hands and tried to forge about it for a moment as to relieve some stress. The journey was not going to be sort and sweet out of Russia and he had no desire to really stay there much longer at that point.
He heard a bolt of lightning strike the ground somewhere near. It caught his attention as well as most of the people in the bar. That was strange. Lightning wasn't the usual pattern you expected with a normal snow storm. While lightning has appeared sometimes in the absence of a thunder storm no one had much experience with it hitting the ground in a blizzard. Maybe that halo is back? Is that possible? Kevin got out of his eat and walked out the door.
The sky looked black with the cloud cover. Another thought went into Kevin's mind. The storm had appeared quite suddenly. In fact Kevin didn't recall a snow storm to be expected for a long time by any meteorologist. The weather was a strange thing and Kevin never really believed it ever conceivable for any one to predict the weather, but he never heard of anyone being this wrong about it. He stepped out further looking to the sky. He waited for another bolt to hit, to see it was red or white. That would give a hint to what was going on. He starred at the sky for four minutes and no bolt was visible and no thunder clap could be heard in the distance. He thought it must have just been perhaps an explosion or just a freak of nature, so to speak.
Kevin quickly turned his head around. Someone had tired to quickly and carefully get passed him into the bar without him seeing him or perhaps her. He saw door was still swinging slightly for there hastened entrance. He guessed it must have been someone wanting to catch him by surprise. It was too bad they didn't wait till he was far enough to not notice them. He could just lave them waiting in there but then they might come after him some other time a long the open road. Kevin decided he would much rather deal with them at that time.
He didn't spend that much time examining the door, and walked casually as he could be into the bar and back to his drink. He resumed the position of his deep thinking which he had been in the entire day of his waiting, this time focusing on where Glamdring was at his side and the best way to draw it in response to an attack. He didn't mind too much someone getting by him, but getting caught unprepared for an attack could bring the mightiest of demons down. He was ready in any case for this hunter to appear. It would provide some excitement to a day that had been very slow for him.
He waited there for several minutes, overhearing the other customer's talk of the light show the other night. The bar tender had also turned on the television to see a report on the findings on what happened. They commented on the meteors that hurled out of the sky over St. Petersburg and the panic it had caused through the city and the neighboring ones. They also reported that the meteors when as far as ten thousand kilometers from the city. This surprised Kevin. There where moving fast but he didn't expect them to move far enough as to cross the Atlantic and then some. It must have been a very powerful demon indeed.
He kept alert. Some time went by and one tried an attack. He must suspect that I am aware he is here. He might not be such a weak demon after all. I better keep my guard. He waited several more minutes, until he himself began to get impatient. He ordered another drink in a very irritable tone as to maybe warn whoever they where, that they better stand because he wasn't fan of playing games. He downed the drink quickly getting some applause from other customers though he did not acknowledge them. He hammered the glass back down on the bar nearly breaking it into pieces. This signaled all the other customers to back off from him.
The night went on and still no one came out to fight him. Kevin began to wonder if his bike was done so he could get out of there. He irritated enough at that point he invited the stalker to come after him on the road, less places for him to hide, giving a field bonus to Kevin. He decided it must be done by then and left the bar to ride out of there, though the snow was still too thick for him to get that far.
The mechanic greeted him telling him that his bike was still not ready. In truth it had taken longer than expected to replace the engine and it was lying in several parts on a jack. Kevin sighed deeply at this but didn't complain. The mechanic got paid by the hours he worked and it was in his beast interest to take longer than he informs his customers. Kevin just hoped he wouldn't jack up the price to unreasonable heights.
He regrettably made his back to bar to find the other guests weary of his return. For one thing he did look younger and his sort display of anger caused some anxiety of what kind of person he actually was. Kevin returned to his seat at the bar and hoped that the would-be assassin had taken his good chance to run with his tail between his legs. Kevin wasn't in the mood for combat at that point, any one h thought he in most probability use his sword to dice them into sushi. He wanted to get on the road as soon as he could, which turned out top be not so soon after all. He began to loath whoever had caused that fire dragon beast to burn his tires and explode his gas tank.
I took a few minutes for him to sink in his drink that he ordered to be very strong. When his head had finally rid it self of all its unwarranted anger, he began to feel a familiar presence in the bar. It was not one that was there before, though it could have been masking it self. It felt familiar to the sense he got from the demon, which got passed him as t the door, but he was sure who it was. He knew from some other time as well. In some other part of Russia he sensed this for he knew it to be in the last six mouths. He tried to pin it to somewhere in the bar but the noise kept him from concentrating. He re-gripped his sword tightly. He tired to keep his mind clear as to get the best reaction time when the hunter attacked and the energy he sensed spiked. This wasn't assisted when a large group of Russian speaking construction workers came into the pub shouting loudly and ordering a keg for everyone there to drink. In any other time he would take someone up on that.
The noise level had risen dramatically since there arrival, and Kevin couldn't make up or down of where the assassin was. This wasn't good. If the hunter was an especially ruthless demon from Makai he or she, or maybe it, would not have no problem with killing all the humans in the bar to get at him. This included any high explosives they may have. Kevin decided it was best for him to slowly finish his drink and get out of the bar and fight this character outside in the snow. He drank his glass while keeping full aware of the people around him.
Kevin nearly gulped his glass and the energy spike. Though it was now clear as to where the assassin was no attack came. So this guy doesn't want to fight. Well, we'll se about that. He listened with is excellent ears as the demon, clearly a male at that point, stepped closer to him. He wasn't in any sort of hurry. It was like the thing wasn't even worried about Kevin clearly being agitated by him. Kevin didn't think much of that, most demons where incredibly overly cocky when it came to battle, which is how he won his early, battles, by catching them off guard. This demon to Kevin was nothing but one of them though his energy he was sure he knew from somewhere recent. It seemed like a long time of tacking his movements before the demon walked up to the vacant seat next to Kevin and with an arrogant smile on his face sit down next to the hybrid.
"So, I see the lights of St. Petersburg, have drawn you here as well, or was it the fact that there is a rumor of a demon with a huge price if he is caught and dragged back to Makai."
Kevin turned in his seat to see the slightly pale face of Shuro.
"I saw the fireworks that went on last night and I can safely say that there is a good reason for that price they have on this guy. Can you think of any demon that could do that? I wonder who tried to catch him so that some thing like that may get unlashed. I thought I might be you, than I noticed you standing outside just a few minutes when I got here."
Kevin removed his hand Glamdring and took a sip of his drink. "What the hell go you want, Shuro? I am not in the mood for your games."
"You never are good person for an interesting conversation. You know that, Kevin? I'm guessing there is something wrong with that fast bike of yours, or you would not hang around here this long."
"My bike got wrecked when those meteors came down. It should be fixed soon, and then I canget away from you!"
"Come on, Kevin. You must have guessed why there is storm here. When the weather was cleared to be clear for the next week or so. Come on, you always notice the little things in life. And don't worry it is something to be admired." He stopped speaking to get the bartenders attention. "Excuse me, sir. I would like a large brandy. Please fetch it for me." He drank the brand quick when he received it and turned his golden eyes back to Kevin. "Now snow, as you know, causes a lot of traffic problems. Ice on the roads. Sometimes it piles so high a vehicle can't even get on the road. It is especially difficult for motorcyclist to get around in this kind of weather."
Kevin was very angry at this pint, but then he was ready to remove Shuro's head from his shoulders. "You did this. You did this to keep me here!"
"It took you that long to figure it out. Please you know my gift with storms. Any way I had to delay you before I arrived so you wouldn't leave before I got to talk to you."
Kevin downed his drink then stood up to leave.
"Please, hear me out. It's good for both of use. Besides, your bike is still in the mechanic's garage."
Kevin didn't want to listen to his demon. He was one of the most annoying demons he had met. He wasn't exactly evil though and he was good natured, had never taken a human life, so Kevin couldn't bring himself to strike. He was right about that as well. He couldn't go any where at that time that Shuro couldn't follow him. Might as well to give him a shot. Kevin sat back down at the bar, burring his head in his hands once again.
"Cool. Now listen to me. The light show last night was no freak of nature. Trust that I am an expert at storms and freaks of nature. It was defiantly cause by some sort of spirit power being used in ways I haven't seen ever in my long life."
"I already know that."
"Yes you may believe it was cause by some sort of demon. Specifically the demon everyone in all the three worlds wants to find. I'll tell you this. I do believe he was somehow involved with its creation, but trust me when I say it wasn't his energy that was making that red halo fire lightning everywhere and send beast of fire all over Earth."
"Please Shuro; it had to be some sort of demon. It wasn't and couldn't be created by any human psychics or those fools in Sprit World."
"That is what it looks to us. But you must trust me when I say that the halo was not demonic energy. It was something else, something older than demons."
"Please don't tell me this is the end of the world and you and I must find some to stop it by finding this mystery guy whom you say is involved with the halo and the red lightning, to somehow stop an unstoppable god from awakening to destroy the universe. I have seen this plot in al most very fantasy movie and video game there is Shuro, now tell me the job you want me to help you with."
"Kevin this is the truth. I don't know what caused that halo. Or all the monsters to come from it. I do know what demonic energy is. I know what the sky and the wind feel like when a demon tries to make a force such as that halo. It wasn't a demon Kevin. You must agree there is something big happening in Makai or why would such a good price beset on one renegade?"
Kevin listened to Shuro's reasoning. It sounded like he was telling the truth. Kevin had to agree something big was coming over the horizon and it wouldn't be the first time it happened. He didn't want to believe it was another end of the world. Too many of those had already come close to happening. He thought of the mystery demon. If it wasn't all his power that made the halo appear, than it is possible for him to be caught. That was what Shuro was probably going to suggest.
"Okay, so there is something going on that is over our heads. What do you want me to do?"
"For starters care. You should care being a champion."
Kevin didn't enjoy being called that, though it was true.
"I want you to help me find this demon. I made the storm not just to keep you from leaving early. He is probably stuck on the road some kilometers east of here. We can catch him. However, I am not that physically strong. You are the most powerful man I know, Kevin. You must fight while I find a way to disable him."
"What then?"
"I don't know. We could turn him in, of course, and collect the reward. But he must know something about what the halo was and who has all of the people and demons every where by the collar looking for him. We will have to get out of here fast once your bike is cleared. The storm will only slow or competition for a while."
Kevin thought o the choice. Shuro was not going to let him say no. He storm would go on for weeks if that happened. He hated not knowing what was going on too. He most likely could take this demon whoever he was.
"Okay, I we catch him and find out what the hell is going on."
"Thank you for agreeing. I think owe youa drink. Barkeep, two scotches please." The barkeep had just finished wheeling out another round for the party which was thriving around them. He got the scotches after few minutes of Shuro asking. "I hope you like scotch. To our finding the truth. and may our luck also run high." Hey toasted by clicking their glassed together then quickly drinking the alcohol. Kevin had never taken a shot of scotch before. He coughed and gagged as it burned his throat.
Shuro laughed at this. Kevin was a young man it was not surprising that he might not have that much of a tolerance for hard liqueur. Still he found the young fire demon getting burnt from scotch amusing.
"Come now, is it so hard for you to digest simple alcohol?"
"Excuse sir."
Kevin turned his attention to a young man from off the street.
"The mechanic says your motorcycle is ready," he said in a heavy Russian voice.
"Very good, now you and me may go find this demon and perhaps find answers to the chaos that has been happening this last few mouths," Shuro spoke with great optimism.
In a few minutes Kevin had finished his scotch and was down on street with his bike parked. He dusted off the snow from his seat and sat down, firing up his engine.
"If wait a few minutes, I can clear path from you to ride," said Shuro.
"You know, Shuro?" Kevin shifted in his seat so as to see the storm demon. "I was never really worried about your snow."
Shuro saw a spike in Kevin's fiery aura. As his biked warmed up, the ice on the ground in front of the fore tire of the bike melted into water. He revved up the engine and accelerated, melting a path for him as he rode.
Shuro watched him ride away with some satisfaction that he would find truth that day. He had worried that the very young Kevin would quickly become too wrapped up in his amazing gifts and loose sight of what was important. The situation, at hand, provided him a chance to remind his demon friend that he still was half human. Kevin increased his speed as Shuro saw him hit the open highway.
Shuro closed his eyes and the wind began to grow around him. He slowly rose off the ground till he was free of any obstacle. He then let the wind carry him as it carries a kite and flew to catch up with Kevin on the road.
St. Petersburg truly had majesty to impress upon all whom see it. The history and drama that had played forth with its streets were impressive to anyone, including Hiei. He stood on the ledge of the roof of some building. He didn't care for most of city it was just another human settlement that he would now have to search through to find their fugitive, Tanneth.
It seemed he had evaded them once again even though it had only been half a day since they left New York to get to St. Petersburg and still even with is Jagan eye he could see his presence in the city. The scent of what had happed there though was still reeking throughout. The red halo that they had found out had formed above the city and spawned those hideous beasts had blanketed the city with a psychic residue that still so potent that it was nearly making Hiei dizzy. It gave him a nauseous feeling as though he had eaten something very rotten. Thankfully for Hiei he wasn't suffering alone.
Kuwabara had exceptional awareness and he also conveyed a feel of disgust for the scent of the city. The human was a gifted psychic to be certain but he was an idiot in the fire demon's mind.
The idea of the domino bothered Hiei the most, especially since his fight with Gaol. They claimed to be the greatest race there was and yet they are practically nonexistent only revealing themselves to others when they feel it is necessary for them. It made little sense to him. He saw first had what one of them could do, and yet all there power went to waste. No, was his thought. Something was in the process of being finished he knew. Not just by all the happenings of recent but by just the feel of what was to come. He could not see the future with his Jagan but it did not stop him from having his instincts toward the future. The air was cold and dry in the majority of places he went and in general he saw much fear, even in the humans who do not have any idea of what happens under their stuck up noses.
Hiei had little love for humans but he understood innocence and the truth in it. He was demon and violent by his nature but perhaps it was his sister's example of it that he knew the truth that life deserved to live. Of course he saw the other side. The demons and corrupt humans that spoil life and innocence with their petty and irreverent scams for glory, wealth, and power. They desired control over their lives and all the other live around them. He had lived for some time then. He knew how easy it was to hate. So he adopted a policy of indifference to all the horrific and good things in the worlds he had seen. To just leave it as is and not put his heart t on the line that was what he promised along time ago. Some called him ruthless, others called him skilled. Some, those that truly knew, understood his reasons for helping the detective Yusuke and his team save lives form the hands of some of the darkest beings to walk in any of the worlds. For this reason and that he had little choice from the Lord of Spirit World, that he would save their lives on many occasions.
He looked over the streets seeing nothing but the snow covered people shivering as they walked at a truly brisk pace to their cares or another building. He found heir discomfort amusing. He was a fire demon and there of did not like the cold, but that fact also made him immune to freezing to death. His red eyes glanced over an adjacent building and noticed damage to its structure. He could tell it had been recent, perhaps not even a day old. It was fire damage cause by what look to him as a bolt of lightning. More damage. The halo must have shot them all over the city.
He tuned completely around, trying to find the area where the halo was over the stories varied too much for him to know certain, thus why he was on the ledge of a building. Moving his eyes to the east he saw one headlight of a motorcycle head east very quickly. It reminded him of someone he knew at one time, but it didn't matter.
He glance over more suburban area and saw a building that seemed to have one side of it brunt to the around. That was a good place in his mind to pick up a trail. Hiei got himself ready to jump back down to the street when he heard some one do the same. Faster than eye could see Hiei was looking over the side where the sound came from with is katana drawn. He saw footprints from the landing but nothing else. He growled lowly. He didn't need someone to be following him. He already had enough problems with the snow and stench from what ever the halo was. He looked up and down the alley until he heard Yusuke's voice.
"Hiei, what the hell is taking you!?"
He glanced over the footprints one last time. He ran off the edge then and landed on the snow next to Yusuke.
"Well Hiei," he asked?
"A few blocks there is the area where the halo was over. Happy," he said with a cold sarcasm?"
"It's so cold," said Botan with a chilled stutter in her voice.
"Yeah, Kurama you said it wasn't due to snow for at least another week," said Yusuke.
"That was what the report said. This weather is not normal," Kurama returned.
"When is any thing ever normal these days," asked Kuwabara rhetorically.
The group made their way to the area as fast they could with the snow. Hiei looked over his shoulder no and then. Someone was following them. He had to wait till they got too close to do something. He focused his Jagan trying to sense them but here was nothing for him to pick up. Still he watched his back until Kuwabara starting asking dumb questions why he was looking back.
They arrived at the seen, which Hiei had described to them.
"Something's really weird about this place," said Kuwabara.
Hiei could feel the power much more strongly then. It had gone from a sort of sickening feeling to a fearful feeling. It was almost overwhelming. It was as he sense when in the presence of Toguro or, the dominion Gaol. Was there a battle here?
"It looks there was a battle here between two dominions I would guess from the energy that was left behind," stated Kurama.
"Still how does this help us? Tanneth isn't here anymore," Kuwabara said.
"We can ask nearby residents what happened," said Kurama.
"Yeah, but I don't get it," said Yusuke.
Everyone turned their attention to Yusuke, who examining a dent in the pavement
"Why," they said.
"Well when I fought Gaol, there were blast parks a few burnt buildings and more than one dent in the ground. Here, the place is practically clean."
"Not to mention the halo that was said to be in the sky, and all the meteors that came from it." said Kurama.
"Something happened," Genkai spoke, "the air is filled with psychic energy. It feels as if there was a portal opened here."
"You think he went back to the demon world," said Kuwabara?
"Possibly, but that wouldn't go along with why he came. He forced himself to this world so he could run from his enemies in Makai. He wouldn't want to go back," Genkai explained.
"We'll just have to ask him when we find him. The point is he is nearby," Hiei spoke with some bitterness. He was eager to redeem himself from his battle with Gaol.
"Yeah but where the hell do we look for him. The man is damn ghost," shouted Yusuke!
"Would you shut up?! This is the best chance we've had so far to nab him. It would be better if we don't blow it by all your bickering," Genkai said.
The group went silent.
"Fine now let's….," Genkai stopped talking and looked out of the alley into the street.
Hiei's Jagan glowed. "Someone is coming."
With a dash they all found hiding places at the side of the alley. Hiei position himself atop a drain pipe behind an outgoing in the wall. He had expected this person to show up with them sooner or later. He had been following them since he was on the roof. He drew his katana, holding it in his right hand waiting for the person to come in sight. He personally didn't expect him too. He had been good enough to follow far enough so as to fool him and get away. It wasn't likely he would come into the alley when she knew him to be there. Hiei concentrated listening for sounds a few blocks to along the street. He sensed something coming closer to them. So he is that stupid after all. Hiei tightened his grip as the energy came closer.
Yusuke clenched his fist when he saw a shadow go over the entrance to the alley. His grip softened when saw who entered.
It was a woman, a striking woman at that. She wore a strange armor suit that was decorated with odd devices and writing of some other language. The suit clung to her body, perfect outlining her figure. Yusuke let a shortened breath when she came into full view. She didn't notice them at first. Her attention went straight to the ground where impression was made. He hurried over to it and knelt down picking up some of the disintegrated concrete and letting it pour back to the ground.
Any anxiety Yusuke had went away at this point. He walked out of his vantage point and into the alley. She noticed him at once and stood up starring at him.
"Well this isn't what I had expected. Tell me if I am right, but you must be a dominion woman," Yusuke spoke with sarcastic voice. Hiei sighed deeply and jumped back down to ground level.
Kyra looked at the detective carefully. He was exactly as Gaol had described to her. He was a little agitated by being called "dominion" by this little weak human but she let it pass. She had little time to play game with humans though this one was already getting on her nerves. Even Tanneth gave her more respect than that.
She saw the fire demon land right beside him. He was something. Gaol had said he was overly powerful for a demon of his stature. She noticed a bandana around his forehead hiding his Jagan Eye. So he does have one. She wished she had time to meet the humans. She was one of a few dominions, who bore some respect for other races.
"You must be the human Gaol told me about," Kyra said to Yusuke.
"So you are one of the Dominion," Kuwabara exclaimed!
"I would be careful where I used that word." she warned him, "Where I come from it has meanings you don't know."
Kyra laughed at his bewildered response.
"Okay then. Where is Tanneth," asked Yusuke?
"Why do think I am here, Yusuke Urameshi?"
"So you are looking for Tanneth as well," said Kurama?
Kyra turned around to address the speaker. His green eyes and red hair caught her attention at once.
"You must be Yoko Kurama." Kyra walked a few steps toward him.
"You've heard of me?"
"Quite," she said.
She turned around and walked over to Yusuke and Botan. "My name is Kyra and I have come to help you."
-Special thanks to Noom-Moonlight Wolf for creating the character Shuro.
-Special thanks also to FlyBoy-62 for creating the character Kevin.
-Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. You guys keep me going.
(PLEASE READ) Check my C2 communities. Trust me when I say th8e best stories on them. More staff and reviews wanted. Come on guys.
!!METALLICA!!
-Thanks for reading.
