Chapter Two: The Calm Before The Storm
Author's Note: Hey again! Sorry it took so long to update…but it's been kinda crazy here (i.e. school, work, just to name a few) but I'm back…ENJOY AND PLEASE REVIEW!
Jamie Parker sat on the warm sand with his back leaning against his well worn and used surfboard. It felt slick, wet, and cold against his bare back…and it elicited shivers up his spine like jolts of electricity. Despite the cold surfboard, the weather was rather warm and humid (as summer in Southern Florida always was), but after spending an afternoon surfing in the cold water, he found the sun quiet pleasurable against his exposed upper body.
He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle rocking of the waves against the sand…he loved the beach…everything about it…and if given the opportunity, he could easily spend a whole day out here. Jamie didn't mind the sting or taste of salt water…or the fact that sand got everywhere…to him; these were all part of something wonderful.
Reflecting on the beach and the water made Jamie think of his childhood, and how, even when he was but a little toddler he loved the water. He remembered that when his family was stationed in Yokosuka, his mother had signed him up for swim lessons when he was four…most of the kids were terrified…Jamie was the only one who went into the deep end.
Takes to the water like a fish! Who knows? He could grow up to be a Navy Seal just like his old man!
The thought popped into his head randomly rather then actually taking the time to think about it…his father had said that…Allen Parker…who had been in the Navy. Jamie's father and his mother had been gone now for ten years…had it really been that long ago? There were some days when Jamie couldn't believe it had been ten years ago…and yet, there were others when Jamie felt like he was nine again…and his parents passing had only been a few days away.
However, long ago, Jamie had come to accept his parents passing…he was no longer grieving for them…well, at least not as much as he used to…but there were times when he wished…just for a second…that they could see the man that he had become.
What would they think of him? Would they be proud?
His father always wanted his boys to grow up, and carry on the proud, Naval tradition that five generations of Parker men had gone through…however, he was a kind, loving man who would have supported his children's dreams no matter what they were.
Jamie knew he couldn't dwell on the past any longer…the past was the past…and there was nothing that could change it. Unfortunately, time travel didn't come with the Nephilim package…and in some ways, Jamie had an understanding that it was their time to leave this world…and even if he could go back, there was probably little to nothing he could do.
He may not have gotten along with God…but being The Nephilim had taught him that it was an absolute waste of time to try to argue, barter, or demand something from The Creator.
And besides, on a lighter note, he had plans later tonight…and for once, they didn't involve decapitation and demon slaughter! Today was May 15th; officially, all the schools in the tiny resort town of Treasure Island had been let out for that joyous occasion known as summer vacation…and to celebrate, his neighborhood was having it's first (of many) summer block parties!
Being in college, Jamie and his friends had gotten out a week earlier; his birthday was on the last day of school (May 8th). He was nineteen years old now…almost twenty…and that frightened him somewhat…but at the same time…he felt a sense of accomplishment for living this long.
After all, most Nephilim died at around seventeen…and here he was, practically twenty!
He and his friends had gotten home two days ago…and after spending the past two days sleeping…patrolling…unpacking…and just plain hanging out…they now gave each other some "alone time". Mina was busy at her father's Dojo (doubled as a meeting place for all things Nephilim), Robbie was sleeping, and layin' up today, and Maureen was taking her Irish cousins around town…and Jamie…well, he had spent the morning skating with Justin, and surfing with him in the afternoon.
He had left about an hour ago to cook some of his world famous ribs and steaks on the grill for the party…Jamie had wanted to stay out just a little bit longer…and enjoy the simple pleasure of being in his hometown after spending the last nine months in Miami (and a month and a half in Tokyo).
The sun dipped low in the sky, bathing it in hues of pink and purple. Jamie watched it set for a few moments and he shivered slightly at the temperature decrease. He reached into his bag, and pulled out his cell phone to check the time. It was 7:30, the party would start in another half hour…so he'd better get going.
Everything in Treasure Island was within walking distance and it would only take Jamie about ten minutes to get home. Slowly, she stood up, wiped the sand off of his blue, Hawaiian board shorts, retied his hair, and put his sandals on.
With Nephilim strength, carrying the surfboard wasn't nearly as cumbersome as it used to be. As he walked down the roads that he had walked through for the past ten years, Jamie realized how much he enjoyed the simple pleasures of being home, in familiar territory, and the complacent normalcy of life after Devil's demise.
While Jamie still patrolled, and dealt with the demons…things on the supernatural side seemed to quiet down a little…oh sure, there were the usual, random demonic encounters, but nothing quite like the magnitude of what he faced during the King of Iron Fist Tournament.
It seemed like the undead were really banking on Devil's success in unleashing Hell on Earth…after all; Jamie had read that people who were afflicted with the Devil Gene were possessed by a sort of demonic aristocracy. Apparently, Devil was a high ranking official in the world of the forces of darkness.
As Jamie walked home lost in his thoughts…he was completely unaware of the plane soaring through the sky…and beginning its descent towards the airport.
Meanwhile…
Doo San Hwoarang never liked plane rides…if he had any kind of phobia… it was air travel. For some reason, he never thought humans were meant to fly through the air. As far as he was concerned, the sky was to be left to the birds…and yet, here he was, on a wonderful ten hour flight from Rome to the United States…more specifically to a hole-in-the-wall resort town in Southern Florida.
He was here to speak with the Nephilim Jamie Parker…his old friend from the tournament…and, more recently, a partner in Hwoarang's latest profession.
Professional Demon Hunter…The Badass Demon Hunter Hwoarang…I kinda like the sound of that…
Actually, Hwoarang wasn't here just to "speak" with the Nephilim…he was here to enlist him for the latest cause…Hwoarang knew that the "peace" that the world had known for the past four months could not, and would not last forever.
He wasn't being pessimistic, he was just being reasonable.
And low, and behold, something new had come up…something far worse then Devil could have ever been.
Details were frustratingly sketchy…but the Via de Angelus knew enough to get worried, and get the Nephilim to help immediately. Apparently, Devil's powerful posse had served an even greater master then evil incarnate…
His name was Jinpachi Mishima…Heihachi Mishima's own father!
Biologically, he should be dead…he was kept under the Hon Maru Temple…but shortly after Jamie and the others got out it was destroyed…and Jinpachi was left.
He also wanted to bring Hell on Earth…but he couldn't…not yet at least...in the Mishima Bloodline he was responsible for the Devil Gene afflicting his family. He actually injected it into his own body!
As a side effect, his grandson, and great grandson were afflicted with it. His son locked him beneath Hon Maru and while his physical body had died…the Devil Gene had lived on…although, keeping a corpse alive was draining on even the demon's awesome power…if he wanted to exact hell on earth and obtain the ultimate power he needed to do so…then he needed the aid of seven, jade orbs. Known as the seven Shakra stones…they used to be part of a necklace that was rumored to be worn by Buddha himself.
They each held Japanese characters for the seven virtues…and it was said that whoever gathered them together would attain perfect enlightenment…if they were on the side of good…if evil got a hold of them…well…
Hwoarang could use his imagination…and he was sure Jamie could too.
The fiery haired Korean picked up his backpack and rummaged through his back pack…and it contained the first of seven of the Shakra Orbs…it said "Faith" on it…and for now, Hwoarang had put all of his in Jamie's…and the VDA's…
Author's Note: Okay, sorry it's rushed and short, and draggin' butt! But a fun filled action scene is comin' next chappie (my specialty LOL) PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! And I know that this isn't exactly what's happening…but isn't this what writing's all about? Playing around with scenarios?