Chapter 13. Birds of a feather
"Ouch!" Poch cringed as Loona wrapped up his arm.
"Sorry!" Loona apologized.
"It's fine, you just pulled a little tight."
"Can I get a red sling?" Jack asked Dundy. His arm was gauzed up from the top of his elbow, where he was bitten.
"We only have white and blue," Dundy told him.
"Blue then."
They were all in the meeting room while Shelly and Solis were collecting Halos. Loona had run out after Poch and Jack took down the boss angel. She was concerned especially when she heard Poch's painful scream.
"I've never seen you run so fast, Loona. You must've really been worried about him," Millie smirked.
Loona blushed. "Well, yeah! it's...what friends do."
Poch smiled at her before cringing to her tying a knot in his wrap. "Too tight!"
"Sorry!"
"Hey Mox, how's the collecting going?" Jack asked.
Moxxie was looking out the window, monitoring them. "It's going...but there's...a crowd."
"A crowd? Whatcha mean?"
"Like there's a group surrounding them as they grab Halos." Moxxie looked down. "There's even some at the front door of the building."
"Wonder why?" Poch asked, his arm being placed in a sling.
Loona took out her phone. "Think I have an idea why….yep." She showed Poch the phone.
On Loona's phone was a social media feed of the exterminators fighting the Angels. Poch sighed. "Looks like demons are getting curious about us."
Jack leaned in. "Oh shit! We getting fans!?"
"Oh no. Paparazzi," Dundy groaned.
"Oh! Think there'll be a news interview!" Blitzø asked with sparkling eyes.
"Boss, if there is, it'll be for us," Jack said.
"True but-"
"And I'll male sure they know who we work for!"
Blitzø ran up to Jack and hugged him. "That's why you're the employee of the month! Sorry Moxxie."
"Cool...mind getting off the arm?" Jack said, holding back painful whines.
"Oh, sorry." Blitzø let go.
"It's fine."
"I'm staying out of that news interview. Times like these I'm glad I can make portals," Poch said, "Oh! Speaking of which," Poch turned his back to Loona, "mind turning my right dagger to the left? I'm not gonna be able to use my arm for at least two weeks, even with our special meds."
"Yeah sure." Loona lifted the back of jacket. "Wait, won't touching those hurt?"
"Not if you grab the sheathe. Just pull back and turn."
Loona grabbed the right dagger's sheath, pulling it and swivelling it around, hearing a few clicks as it turned into place. "There."
"Thanks."
"Shelly and Solis are coming in," Moxxie informed.
"Cool. Hope they didn't have to deal with too much," Dundy hoped.
"There were a few demons trying to follow but Shelly used Juggernaut to stop them."
"Those huge hands come in handy. They get all the halos?" Jack asked.
"I dont think so."
"Alright, maybe I should help them out then. Dust is much better at collecting than Juggernaut. Be quicker if I could giga it though."
"Speaking of," Poch began, "I'm surprised none of you asked about the giant Shiva I used."
"Blitzø told us," Millie answered, "you Giga'd it, basically increasing its size by writing more of its name before summoning, but each name becomes more difficult to write and the huge shadow demon becomes more difficult to use."
"Thanks for that exposition Mils! Explained it better than I did!" Blitzø complimented.
Shelly and Solis came in, holding large bags. "Hey y'all," Shelly greeted, "we almost got all the Halos, some are in a hard to reach spot, especially for juggernaut."
"Alright," Jack stood up, "that's where I come in."
"Sure you can?" Solis asked.
"Yeah, my arms all slinged up, and I got a free arm for Dust!"
"Alright then, just be prepped to get bombarded with questions."
"Oh! can I come in that case?!" Blitzø asked with enthusiasm.
"Sure!" Jack answered. "Well answered the public's burning questions about us angel slayers and promote the I.M.P. name!"
"Alright!"
"Can...can someone go with them as a filter?" Poch asked.
"I'll do it!" Shelly volunteered. "Wanna come with Solis? They were asking about you too."
Solis shrugged. "Yeah sure, I need to make sure you don't go too deep about our relationship to random people again."
"That was one time and she was super friendly!"
"Two times."
"Ok, but that one was an old friend!"
"You guys have fun," Poch got up, "I'm gonna head home and get a burger."
"Oh, can I come with?" Loona asked. "Could go for some fries."
"Sure, we can finish that movie."
"Four dates in a row at his place? At this point you should just move in, Loona," Moxxie smirked.
"It's not a date!" The two hellhounds said in unison.
"Uh-huh."
"Shut it, needle dick! Let's just go, Poch!" Loona barked, going to where the book was with Poch in tow.
"And I'll be taking the back way," Dundy said, not wanting to deal with a crowd.
"Alright guys! Get your makeup ready cause it's interview time!" Blitzø cracked his knuckles.
The front doors of the building shot open and out came Blitzø along with Millie and Moxxie. "Hello demons of the pride ring!" Blitzø got the crowd's attention. "Please direct your attention here to the heroes of the Cleansing!"
Jack jumped out and did a front flip. "Tada!" He cringed, having hurt his injury in the movement. "Ouch." He softly rubbed it.
"I thought we weren't doing dramatic entries?" Shelly questioned, walking out with Solis.
As soon as they got out their pictures were being taken and the questions flew from the curious demons. Moxxie and Millie formed a perimeter.
"Now now, we'd be happy to answer all your questions! Journalists first, raise your hands!" Blitzø announced
"What makes you think anyone here's a-" Moxxie was cut off by a few demons raising their hands, "nevermind."
"You there!" He pointed to one close by.
"Who are you demons and how can you fight the angels?" They asked.
"Were exterminators," Jack answered, "except for Solis," he pointed to Solis, "were special demons given the Demonic Arts which allow us to kill our heavenly assailants!"
"Next question! You!" Blitzø pointed at another.
"What are the Demonic Arts? Some sort of spell?" The demon asked.
"Not quite," Shelly answered, "it's more than a spell, it's...well like a state of being."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I'd tell you but," She pulled out her guns, "then I'd have to kill you!" She smirked slyly.
"U-uhmm."
"Haha, I'm kidding, about the killing part I mean." She sheathed her weapons.
"Next!" Blitzø shouted.
"Why is this the first time we've seen you?" Another questioned.
Jack and Shelly tried to find the best way to answer that question without revealing a secret. Luckily Solis had their back. "They've been elsewhere, cultivating the power to kill the angels."
"Can we also get that power?"
"No, sadly. Next!"
"Can we get your names?" Someone asked.
"Jack!" Jack waved.
"Solis," Solis said.
"I'm Shelly!" Shelly smiled.
"The rest is a big owl named Dundy and a cute shy hellhound named Poch!" Jack told them.
"Poch is gonna get you for that."
"Next question!"
"What were those rings you picked up?" A new demon asked.
"Halos, and before you say it, they don't show up on top of the head in hell."
"Who do you guys work for?" Another butt in.
"We don't work for anyone as exterminators. However, Poch and I do work for I.M.P.!"
"I.M.P.?"
"That's where I come in!" Blitzø said, pulling out a tv.
"Here's our commercial!" Blitzo said, turning on the ad.
Octavia paused the video. "Not watching that," she said to herself. It was close to nine PM. She was at an electronics store, waiting for something, scrolling through her phone, looking at the new feed on her app. It was mostly about the exterminators, who she has taken an interest in. She just found that video of an interview from some of them and was now looking at pics of them fighting during the Cleansing.
"Excuse me miss," the voice of an imp worker said to her, holding an ipod, "here you are. Repairs are finished."
"Thanks." Octavia took the device and bid them farewell, leaving and heading for home. She plugged in her headphones and put one ear in, listening to one of her songs. She hummed to the beat as she walked.
A cat demon across the street whistled. "Hey girl! Where you come from?" He said in a bit of a slur. He was drunk.
Octavia ignored him.
"Hey, cmon, don't be like that! Not going home already are ya?"
Octavia didn't even look his way and kept walking, albeit slightly faster.
A dark red imp stopped her by getting in front of her and slapping his arm against the wall. "Hey! I know you heard him!" He smirked.
Another cat demon came from behind her. "He doesn't like being ignored."
The drunk cat came stumbling from the side. "No I don't!"
"Leave me alone." Octavia glared, trying to walk around.
The imp pulled her back by the arm. "Oh, such a scary glare! Where's the apology for ignoring him?"
"You don't get one." She tried to wiggle out his grasp.
"Oh?" The other cat demon came closer from behind. "And why's that?"
"..." she tried harder to free herself.
"Hey hey," the imp brought his face closer, the smell of cigars becoming stronger in her nose, "why the rush? We just want an apology."
"Yeah," the drunk one got closer, "I want my apology ya rude bitch!"
"Cmon, it can't be that hard."
"I believe the lady doesn't want to deal with you," Came a russian voice from behind the imp.
They turned to the source and saw Dundy, looking down on them.
"Oh shit!" The cat from behind Octavia went wide eyed.
"Uhhh, we should uh...g-get going?" The drunk one said.
The imp smirked. "Now worries guys! He's an exterminator, y'know those guys killing the angels. He can't hurt us cause he's supposed to be protecting us! Goes against the code!" He looked at Dundy smugly. "Right! You're our bitch!"
"...firstly," Dundy shoved his hand into the imps mouth, grabbing it's right fang, its face looking shocked, "who told you there was a code? because," he twisted his fingers and snapped the tooth out the imps jaw.
"AAAGH!" The imp screamed in pain before his other fang was grabbed.
"There is no code. Secondly, I may fight Angels, but," he snapped the other fang, "that does not mean I am your protector, especially to you assholes." He grabbed the imp's front two teeth. "And that brings us to the last point. I," he pulled slightly, "am not," the teeth cracked at the roots, "your bitch." He snapped them off.
The imp wailed in agony, holding its bleeding jaw. His head got grabbed and he was forcefully turned around.
"Now apologize."
"I-I-im sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"Good. Now," he turned him back around and got in his face, "get. The fuck. Out." He let go.
The imp and his friends dashed out of the as fast as they could before Dundy could do more to them.
Dundy approached Octavia. "You alright?"
"Uh, ye-yes, i'm fine, thank you," Octavia responded.
"Good to hear," he reached his hand out, "I am Dundy."
"Oh," she took his hand and shook, "I'm Octavia."
"Pleasure to meet you. Would you like an escort home?"
"N-no that's fine, I couldn't ask you for that."
"It's fine. Wouldn't want anyone else to mess with you."
"Well...in that case...sure."
"Alright then. Lead the way Ms Octavia."
"Just Octavia is fine," Octsvia smiled at him, leading the way.
"Alright Octavia, what brings you here?"
"Well," she thought about telling him her business and decided he was trustworthy enough to at least know her reason being there, "I was getting my ipod fixed while getting something for my dad."
"Oh, getting him a gift?"
"Sort of. He's been alright lately so I thought it'd be nice to get him something."
"That's nice of you."
"Heh, I guess."
"Mind if I ask what your father is like?"
"He's...flamboyant to say the least, but he can be ok at times...he still cares for me, sometimes trying a little too hard, but...it's thought that counts."
"Haha! He sounds like a wonderful dad just with a few...quirks."
"Guess you could say that...he and my mom have been having their...differences lately."
"I see. Sorry to hear."
"It's fine… my dad already made it clear that he's never going to leave me."
"...if you don't mind me asking, what's your relationship with your mother like?"
"With her…I…" she sighed, "it's a bit… complicated."
"Is it now? Well if you don't want to talk about it, I understand. It's none of my business."
"Thanks. You're a pretty cool owl."
"Thank you."
"Now can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"What's it like having the power to kill the Angels?"
"Hm...well it's like… when I first agreed to this and gained the power of the demonic arts, I felt as though I had gained a responsibility and duty to fight them. I felt as though it was something I needed to do even though there are many others that can do it….my father used to say 'just because another can do it doesnt mean you shouldn't do it, for the reason they do it, is different from your own'. I fight the Angel's for three reasons. To be a part of the sword and shield that protects and gives hope to those who cannot fight, to make sure nobody suffers like my friends and I have, and...because I'm sure it would be something my father would do."
"You're father?" Octavia had to admit that he intrigued her and the way he spoke drew her in.
"Yes….he was...a great man...even with his flaws. He never let those flaws hold him back though. They were his ball and chain but he had the strength to keep going as if it wasn't there...I can only hope to be as great as he was, not the same mind you, for I am my own person. Heh, something else he told me. The world only needs one Derek Aldrich, so instead let it have a Dundy Aldrich. Let it have a you, that is you, not me."
"Wow...was he a poet?"
Dundy chuckled. "No...just wise." They came up to a gate. "Oh," he looked at the mansion, "this is where you live?"
"Yes. My family is...high up."
"Ah, royalty. I feel as though I should bow," Dundy laughed.
"No no, you don't have to," Octavia chuckled.
"Octavia!" A voice came from the house entrance. It was the voice of Stolas, he was coming to the gate. "Sweetheart where have you been? I told you to bring a bodyguard if you're going out!" He said worriedly, opening the gate to hug her.
Octavia rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'm ok dad. I ran into a little trouble but this man saved me." She ushered to Dundy.
"Hello there. My name is Dundy." Dundy bowed.
"An exterminator?" Stolas said with some surprise.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"He must've seen the broadcast," Octavia surmised.
"Broadcast? What broadcast?" Stolas asked.
"You haven't seen it? Your boyfriend was in it."
"Blitzy was there!? Oh I'll have to look that up later!" Stolas giggled.
"Anyways, I'm home now and I'm safe."
"And I'm very glad of that, but please be more careful next time."
"I will, I will," she turned to Dundy, "thanks again Dundy."
"You're welcome," Dundy smiled, "have a nice day." He was about to walk off but Stolas stopped him.
"Hold on! Why not join us for dinner?" Stolas asked.
"Huh? Oh no I couldn't intrude!"
"No no it's fine, we have an open spot!"
"What do you mean by open spot?" Octavia asked.
"Well...your mother decided to take a break from here and will be staying somewhere else for a while."
Octavia groaned. "Did she destroy the place again?"
"No no, thankfully there were no fits. So what do you say, Dundy?"
Dundy mulled it over. He had nothing better to do and he wouldn't mind getting a bite. "Alright. I accept."
"Wonderful! Come on in!"
The servants set down the food in front of the birds at the table. It was sirloin with a side of cauliflower and steamed carrots.
"Thank you," Stolas told the servants, "so Dundy, might I ask what brought you around where my daughter was?"
Dundy was cutting into his sirloin. "I was just passing through honestly. Always wanted to venture out and see what the pride ring has to offer," he took a bite of his food, "mm...this is good."
"Are you new to this ring?" Octavia asked, eating her veggies.
"I guess you could say that. I recently bought a home here a few weeks ago."
"How are you enjoying the pride ring?" Stolas asked.
"Very well actually. There are a few good places to get books."
"Oh, you're a reader?"
"Yes. My father got me into certain genres, like Noir, but I tend to read war stories sometimes since it reminds me of him."
"Your father was a veteran?"
"Yes. He was in the Iraq war. It was before I was born."
"Isn't that a human war?" Octavia asked.
"Oh, uh, yes it is."
"Does that mean you or your father was a Passed?"
"Passed?"
"A person who died early became a demon," Stolas explained, " in certain situations, like if they were a killer, they lose something about themselves, mainly what drove them to kill."
"Ah. Well...he wasn't exactly a Passed."
"So you are then?" Octavia questioned.
"Uh...yes...I am a Passed in a sense."
"What does that mean?"
"Well I uh,"
"Octavia, let's not be rude and pry into the man's personal business," Stolas told his daughter.
"You're right, I'm sorry," Octavia apologized.
"It is fine," Dundy smiled.
"Oh! By the way...um dad?"
"Yes sweetie?" Stolas looked at his daughter with loving eyes.
"I," she pulled something out her pocket, "got you this." It was a silver necklace with a book pendant.
"Oh my!" He took it and admired it. "It looks like my grimoire!"
"I thought it would look pretty cool on you so I had it special ordered. I went to pick it up while getting my ipod fixed."
"I love it!" He put it on. "Thank you Octavia!" He embraced his daughter in a hug which she shyly returned with a smile.
Dundy smiled, remembering the times he gave his father gifts. "zu liebgewonnenen Erinnerungen."
"What?" The two said in unison.
"Oh! Sorry, I was thinking of my father and said a quote. It's german for, "to cherished memories"."
"German?" Stolas raised a brow. "forgive me but I thought you were Russian."
"I'm half russian, half german."
"Ah, I see."
"That's a unique pairing." Octavia commented.
"Well my father and mother did meet in a unique way," Dundy chuckled, "I'd love to tell."
"Oh? Go on then."
"Hehe alright. It started out with my father going to a bar. It was his first time there and his waitress was...a bit cold and rude. She'd throw some remarks at him every now and then and when my dad threw some back things began to escalate. There were insults, heated words, then an argument. That's when my mother punched him in the face. Now my father tells me never to hit a lady and show them respect...so you let them hit you first and respectfully take off the gloves. My mother was no slouch in a fight but my father was not to be messed with in a brawl. Bones were broken, bruises were had, and blood was splattered. Wanna know what happened the next day?"
"What?" Stolas asked with curiosity.
"My father came to her hospital, he won that fight, barged in, came straight to her...and asked her out on a date, even made it clear that it wasn't an apology date. My mother told him it had better not be an apology date and accepted it. Months later they got married while she was one month pregnant with me."
"Wow. A relationship started with a fight. Never heard that one before," Octavia commented.
"Well, as my father and mother always say, verrückte Leute сделать отличную пару. That's german for "crazy people" and russian for "make great couples"."
"And by the looks of it, a great son," Stolas complimented.
"You are too kind."
"Thank you for having me," Dundy told the two at the front door.
"You're welcome! Come by and visit sometime!" Stolas told him.
"Yeah, having you here was pretty cool," Octavia smirked.
"Shall we exchange numbers then?" Dundy asked her.
"Sure, why not." Octavia took out her phone and gave her number to Dundy while also getting his.
"And before you ask, sir, I will be appropriate."
Stolas chuckled. "I know you will."
"Take care, I shall see you all another time." Dundy waved them off before leaving. He walked up to the front gate, stopping when he noticed it didn't open. "Hm?" He noticed a keypad on the side. "Ah, a code. Should've noticed."
"Dundy?" Stolas said behind him.
Dundy turned to him. "Ah, I was just about to come to you about this gate."
"Before that," he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small notebook, "take this. It's some terminology to help you blend in more in hell."
"Oh?"
"Yes and might I say, it would've been better if you said your dad was a Passed instead of you."
"Yes, you might be ri- wait. How do you-"
"I was a candidate to be a part of the corps because of my grimoire. I declined but I did keep in contact with a certain Albest."
"So that's how you knew I was an exterminator."
"Mhm. Also...might I ask...was your father killed by a-"
"Yes...in his final moments...a Purge came and an angel took his life...so sadly...I won't be seeing him in this afterlife. It's part of the reason I became an exterminator."
"I see. I'm sorry."
"It is fine...though his soul may have been shattered...I can only hope it was strong enough to come back together and perhaps be reborn or become a part of something else...I know it sounds impossible but...I have hope."
"You are a strong one, Dundy." Stolas smiled compassionately.
"Thank you."
"I meant it when I said to come by at any time."
"I will, thank you again….might I ask if there's any recent news about a branch in hell?"
Stolas shook his head. "Still leaning no, though we got an extra Yes on the matter, but the main issue of explaining you all still stands heavy in their minds."
"Damn."
"Don't lose hope. From what I've seen from you all, you're not too different from regular demons, so I'm sure you'd be quickly accepted."
"I can only hope you are right."
"So can I." He went and entered the code to open the gate, "take care of yourself and...tell your father and mother I said they have a great son."
"Heh. I'll be sure to do that. Have a nice day!" He bowed before leaving.
Stolas walked back to his mansion. "Now then," he took out his phone, "let's see how Blitzy interviews!"
End
Next chapter. Cherubs.
