Chapter 37. Break in.
"So you're saying you get these hot flashes, hear a laugh, and your symbol is lighting up?" Stolas asked Jack, the two in his living room sitting on the couch.
"Yeah. It's happened twice but I think its related to those challenges I got from earlier." Jack responded
"The ones where you apparently fought something?"
"Mhm." He nodded.
"What makes you say that?"
"The sensation is…kinda the same." Jack tried to describe. "Like I'm feeling the presence of what I did when I dreamed and when I fought it, whatever it is, but this time it's more…intense."
"Hm. The fact that your symbol is glowing could mean it's something demon related."
"My demon shadow energy can react to demonic things? Thought my humanity would counter that?"
"Well not if it's directed towards you specifically. Observe." He closed his eyes before threateningly glaring at Jack with a heavy demonic presence and intent. His eyes glowing bright red and some of his feathers puffing out.
Jack felt a tingle go up his spine and felt a reaction, his Exterminator symbol shining as proof. He jumped back, drawing his scythe, getting ready to fight.
Stolas was quick to avert the gaze and demonic presence, bringing his hands up, gesturing for peace. "Whoa whoa whoa! Calm down, it's just me!"
Jack shook his head and took a breath. "Sorry, you just scared me there."
"It's alright, but now you see my point."
"Yeah," He furled and sheathed his weapon, "but what would be the demon thing targeting me?"
"I don't know but…it may have a link with you if it's so adamant on these…visions. If so, I can try and trace it. I'm no tracking expert so you'll have to bear with me."
"I guess you can't ask a royal hound huh?"
"Not at the moment. There is one that knows about you but he's currently busy."
"Course they are."
"Let me get my grimoire," Stolas said as he rose up.
"Ah right, I should've gotten it from Blitzo before coming here." Jack got up with him, following him as he left.
"Oh no, Octavia has it. She and Dundy are practicing with some offensive spells outside."
"It has attack spells?"
"Yes. Every grimoires has some manner of defense and offense, each are different though. For mine it's a conjuring of weapons made by the user's element."
"Element?"
"Yes. Every demon has a different well…attribute in their soul. Some spells in a grimoire or compass bring out that element, mostly in offensive spells."
"Really? Wonder what Blitzo's is."
"I think it's water, but we can't know for sure. His soul isn't…How do I put this…ysee there's this certain…bloodline protection that well….prevents him and others from using the other more versed spells in the grimoire. If they try they get shocked. Kinda like anyone who touches Poch's daggers except a bit more lethal while yet also resistable, since well Rex has tried it multiple times."
"He has? I didnt think itd work on humans."
"Your demon side kinda acts like some bypass but with a more dangerous feedback."
"Oh neat. What's Rex's element then?"
"Its-"
"AH!" Octavia screamed from outside.
Jack and Stolas were near the back door so they heard it and rushed outside.
"Octavia!?" Stolas called out while Jack got his scythe ready.
Near the back garden was a raging fire that was burning up some of the hedges, Octavia and Dundy trying to put it out with the buckets of water that they had on the side and there were a bunch of buckets.
"What happened!?" Jack asked.
"I uh…may need to work on my aim." Octavia said nervously.
"I'm just glad I jumped out the way," Dundy said, dumping another bucket on the flames.
"Sorry."
"Its fine, let's just focus on putting this fire out."
"I got it," Jack sheathed his weapon and wrote for his Shadow Demon, "Dust." He conjured and maneuvered tendrils of Dust around to grab the many pails of water, placing them over the flames and drowning them out.
"Thanks."
Octavia approached Dundy, concerned she may have hit him. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No no, I'm fine, I'm fine." He puffed his chest out, placing his hands on his hips in a show of confidence. "See. Not a scratch."
"Hmm." She placed her hands on his chest, feeling around, going to his arms, thoroughly inspecting them and feeling them. "All seems well." She went back to his chest, going down to his stomach. She smirked and started to tickle him there.
"Pfft. Kmmmpt." His cheeks puffed, his lips curled, and his eyes started to water as his body shook.
"Hmmm?" Octavia's smirk got wider and she tickled more intensely.
"Ke…kekek….Gahahahah! St- aha Stop it!" Dundy started laughing.
"Say uncle."
"N-...never!"
"Say it!" She got even more intense.
"Gerg!" He shriveled up, trying to contain his laughter but failing. "Alright alright, Uncle! Uncle!"
Octavia stopped, smiling with self pride.
Dundy took a moment to breath. "Hoooh. You're dirty for that one."
"What was that?" She wiggled her fingers threateningly.
"Don't you dare." Dundy backed up.
"Ahem." Stolas coughed to get their attention, looking at them with a bit of a strict glare. "Octavia, how did you discover this spot?"
"Huh? Oh well, his mother told me."
"Uh huh. You sure you didn't just discover it during your little alone times?" Jack smirked.
"What?"
"Jack, what me and Octavia do in our special moments together, is nothing like what you're thinking." Dundy said unamused.
"Yeah, we only just talk and…" Octavia turned to look at Dundy with surprise and a raised brow, "Special?"
"Uh," Dundy lightly blushed, a bit flabbergasted, "w-well…I see our moments together as…special since…I really enjoy them."
Octavia was taken aback by that but smiled anyway. "I'm touched, Dundy. I like our moments too."
"Heh. I'm glad to hear that."
"Wow, you two are kinda like Poch and Loona." Jack commented.
"Achoo!" Poch sneezed. He was in Loonas lap, spectating his girlfriend playing Doom Eternal, managing to cover his nose to prevent sneezing on her.
"Jeez. Gaz-" Loona was gonna say something till her nose wrinkled and she felt a tingle in her nostrils. "Ah…aah…AAAACHOO!" She sneezed, aiming to the side to miss Poch, it costed her though as she lost a life she just got while missing a glory kill. "Shit!" She sniffled, getting back to moving before being overwhelmed by demons.
"Need a tissue?"
"Nah, I'm good. Need a life though. Any after this?"
"Lemme check the guide."
"Were nothing like those two," Octavia rolled her eyes.
"Yes, we're nowhere near as dense about our feelings for the other," Dundy said as a matter of factly.
"So admit there's feelings." Jack smirked.
Dundy rolled his eyes. "Friendly feelings."
"Poch and Loona said the same thing and you saw how they were." Stolas accused.
"ACHOO!" Loona sneezed on the back of her boyfriend's head.
"Ah gross!" Poch cringed.
"Sorry!" She told him, wiping off some of the snot.
Poch's nose tingled and his face retracted. "Ah….aaah…" He grabbed Loonas arm, "ACHOO!" He sneezed tight onto her arm where her gloves were.
"Hey!" She shook her arm off, irritated he did that.
"Payback." Poch smirked.
"Dad," Octavia rolled her eyes, "I only like Dundy as a friend, nothing more."
"Hm." Stolas wasn't all convinced.
"I assure Stolas, The feeling is mutual with me as well."
"Hmmm….I'll believe you…for now."
Octavia sighed. "I'll take that."
"It's the best we're going to get." Dundy agreed.
"Helps that your aura is nowhere near as intense and awkward as those two." Jack chuckled. "Or as dense."
"Or secretive, like Loona secretly cuddling with Poch." Octavia said.
"Or provocative, and you all know what I mean by that." Dundy mentioned.
"Hah, yeah that's true! Glad we didnt bet on them having sex before becoming a couple." Jack laughed.
Loona and Poch were calmly playing Doom Eternal, Poch watching and giving advice while looking up the guide, when both felt a tingle go up their nose.
"Ah….ah…AAAA-" They both were about to sneeze until Shivarna appeared and held their noses, stopping it. "Thanks." The two said.
"Welcome." Shivarna replied.
"I would've won that bet," Dundy smirked.
"Yeah right. Anyways we need the grimoire so Stolas can scan me." Jack said.
"Why? Something wrong?"
"Well…something related to those challenges is calling me for some reason."
"What's calling you?"
"We don't know, but we surmise it's connected itself to him since his mark makes a reaction. I'm hoping my admittedly meager tracking skills could help find it." Stolas said.
"A reaction huh?" Dundy said with some concern.
"That means it could be demon related, right?" Octavia asked.
"In this case possibly."
"That doesn't sound too good."
"Yeah so let's get this done. I got a museum to ransack tomorrow and I'd like to avoid any complications." Jack stated.
"Pardon?" Dundy rose a brow.
"I'll explain in a bit, But first we need to get Jack to sleep." Stolas explained.
"Why?" Jack asked, looking at Stolas curiously.
"It works better if you're unconscious….Plus your rowdy."
"I know how to be calm!"
"I know of a way to making him sleep." Dundy smirked evilly.
"What are you planning?" Jack asked nervously.
Jack laid on the quest bed, sleeping or better yet knocked out with a dazed look and scrunched up face, a bandage placed on his nose and a wet spot on his upper chest. He was surrounded by a red demon magic circle underneath.
"Did you have to hit him so hard?" Stolas asked.
"Not really." Dundy smirked.
Few minutes earlier.
"Dundy what are you planning?" Jack asked, his eyes closed in the kitchen.
"Just keep your eyes closed." Dundy said.
Jack could hear the sound of a spoon scraping the inside of a glass, as if something was mixing. "What are you-?"
"Hold on."
"Mmmm." He heard Dundy come to him and he tensed up. His hand was grabbed and a drink placed in it. "Huh?"
"Drink this, but keep your eyes closed."
"Oh cool. Thought you'd knock me out or something." Jack relaxed and brought it to his mouth. "What's in thi-" He was cut off by a heavy hit to his face, one that nearly caved it in, sending him hard down to the ground with a huge thud. He saw stars and a cackling evil owl exterminator above him as his vision faded.
"It was earned though." Dundy sported a happy devilish grin.
"You're your mothers son alright." Octavia chuckled.
"Hehehehe!"
Stolas looked unamused and rolled his eyes. "Well, at least he'll be easier to check. Now lets see."
"How long will this take?"
"A few minutes at best."
"Hm…Y'know some makeup would definitely help hide that bruise. Octavia?"
Octavia gained a sly grin. "Well I have a few things that could help."
Stolas sighed. "Try not to wake him at least."
A while later
"So nothing?" Jack asked.
"Nothing I could find." Stolas replied.
"Guess that means it's not a demon or it's not something you can't find."
"I can ask a royal hound to see if he could track it."
"Sure, until then, could you gate me back to Nala's? My sis has a game plan to review."
"Sure."
"Thanks, also," Jack turned to face Dundy, "I'm getting you back for this, bird bitch!"
Dundy and Octavia looked at him. Their cheeks puffed with a snicker, holding a wry smile before turning to try and hide their obvious laughter.
"Laugh it up!" He walked through the gate with a grumble. He walked into the dining room where Nala and the others were.
"There you are. What Stolas sa-..." Nala froze along with Collin and Keenie.
"Stolas didn't find anything. He's gonna try and get a royal hound to try since he's not the best tracker. Hoping it won't happen during this mission." He noticed their silence and their stares. "...What?"
"...Snrk….pfft." Their mouths twisted and curled and their cheeks puffed. "BAHAHAHAHA!" They bursted into laughter.
Jack looked at them confused, wondering what was so funny. "What?"
Nala was trying to hold herself up, Keenie was banging on the table, tearing up, and Collin nearly fell back in his chair, needing to gabe the table to hold himself up.
"What!?"
"I…I…AHAHAHAH!" Keenie tried to speak but failed.
"What's so goddamn funny!?" Jack asked, getting irritated.
"J-...prnk…Jack!" Nala strolled to the side, grabbed a mirror off the wall and brought it to him. "H-here!"
"Hm?" He took the mirror and looked at it, his eyes widening as he did. His eyelashes were curled and blackened, purplish pink blush was added to his cheeks, under his eyes was a nice shade of eyeliner, even some placed on his eyelids, there was a light coating of gold glitter sparkling around his face, his horns even having a pink tint and some flower decorations. He growled, feeling his blood boil. "DUNDYYYYYY!" He yelled out.
Echo came out the car that was parked near the training grounds Blitzo got for Exterminators. It was cleaner, had new benches, a medical shed, and now gates with a keypad. Moxxie and Solis were in the car, the imp being the driver and Solis just tagging along for support.
"Thanks for the ride." Echo said.
"Want us to come with you?" Moxxie asked.
"Thank you but…I'd like to be alone for this."
"Ok." Moxxie looked at him with a sympathetic smile.
"We're here if ya need us." Solis added from the back seat.
"I appreciate it." Echo smiled. He closed the door and headed to the gate, entering the keycode, the door unlocking to allow him in. He moved to the center of the concrete field. He took a breath and wrote the words for his shadow demon. "Familia." The three sided totem appeared in front of him. He was hesitant but called for her. "Autumn." The spear wielding wolf emerged from the totem, standing in front of Echo. The Exterminator stared up at her, looking at her empty eyes, seeing nothing there, just a soulless manifestation. Even so, he reached up, cupping his hands around her cheeks, softly rubbing them. He got no reaction. "...Are you there?...Is it possible that…you lived on somehow…" No response. He sighed. "Or did I just imagine it all…was I just hopeful…for nothing?...wishful to be with you, our daughter, and my brother again…" He looked saddened and was about to withdraw his hands, "I guess I wa-" before he could remove his hands, Autumn grabbed both his wrists, keeping his hands there. Echo looked at her in shock, noticing her ease into his touch, her once lifeless eyes becoming softer and closing half way. "A…Autumn?" He called out.
"..." Autumn looked at him, and reached out, holding Echo's face. her touch, along with her gaze, was warm. "...My Echo."
"What!?" He gasped. Before he could say or do anything else, she dismissed, fading back into his shadow. "No wait!" He reached out before she went completely away. He stood there bewildered, thinking about summoning her again, or maybe Dawn or Max, but also thinking she dismissed for a reason. "What…." He had questions but no answers. He was about to write and summon them again but fought against it, not wanting to lose himself in desperation or overwork himself. He sighed and turned back, exiting the grounds and heading back to the car, going in. "Im…all done here." He said solemnly.
"We saw everything…did you…hear her?" Moxxie carefully asked.
"...Yes…it was…faint…but I heard her call my name…."
"...You ok?" Solis asked.
"...I am...alright…thank you."
"Don't be afraid to ask us for anything." Moxxie gave him an encouraging smile.
"I won't. Thanks," Echo smiled back.
Moxxie started the engine and they drove them back home.
Next day.
Stolas opened the way for Collin, Keenie, and Jack to infiltrate the museum, teleporting them to the roof. It was five in the morning so they had about three hours before it opened.
"Good luck! Oh and see if you can get me one of those keychains with the statue of liberty!" Stolas whispered.
"We'll try!" Collin replied, waving him off.
"Ok," Jack brought up his T-watch, pulling up a map that also showed some security details, "by what Nala gathered, there should be a vent around here I can dive us through."
"There it is!" Keenie pointed to a large open vent. The panels were five inches apart, plenty of room for a Dust Dive.
"Alright, stick close, Colenie." Jack grabbed the two angels and pulled them close.
"Ugh, we're so not having that be our ship name." Keenie rolled her eyes.
"That was a ship name? I thought he was just having a stroke." Collin said, making Keenie laugh.
"Oh fuck off." Jack dove them in a Dust Dive and they traveled through the vents. They made sure to stay in the dark, passing through security guards and the like till they reached the back rooms, or rather the warehouse. He moved them to the back where they keep the books, going behind a security camera. "Go for it Kens!"
Keenie brought her arm out and took a photo with a camera with a built-in printer. She took the printed photo and taped it on the lense. "Ok, all good!" She came out the Dust Dive, fanning herself. "Man, it's stuffy in there."
"Tends to be when there's more people." Jack hopped out along with Collin.
"Where's the book?" Collin asked.
"Should be…" Jack looked at his watch and went down the aisle, stopping near one shelf and looking down the crates stopping at one, "in here!" He got out his scythe, sliding its end into the lid, slowly prying it open.
"Gently…" Collin cautioned.
"Gently…" Keenie added.
"Oh will you both fuck off!" Jack scolded, managing to get the lid off with little noise. "There."
Collin went in, looking around the various books. "Found it!" He came out with the one they were looking for, it looked just like how Nala showed it to them. He sat down on the ground and the others set themselves next to him. He opened the book, finding nothing but blank pages. "Wow, not even a trace of something being written." He took out a monocle and a small golden brush. "Keep a look out while I try this out."
"Got it." Jack nodded, going around the corner, peeking around it.
Collin used the brush and slowly but carefully wrote something on the monocle with a different language. "Hope this spell works."
"If not we still have my brush if yours runs out of ink." Keenie reminded him.
"Thanks, babe." Collin smiled. He wrote the incantation around the edge of the glass. Once he finished he said something. "Atitan." The words glowed and became opaque enough to barely even be visible. He put it on and cycled through the words, finding that they were still blank. He looked at the cover. "Hello."
"Find something?" Jack asked.
"I used a translation spell in hopes that it would do something and I seem to be able to read this cover."
"Well, what's it say?"
"From Dalk Teriss Tritan the second."
"From?" Keenie tilted her head.
"That sounds like a name." Jack surmised.
"But what's the From part mean? Is it some journal?"
"No clue. Let me try a different spell." Collin opened the book back up, set it down, and took off his monocle, licking his tongue and wiping off the words before drying it and writing another set of words. "Atitan." He placed it back on after activation and looked over. "Hm…nothing with this spell."
"Which one you use?" Keenie asked.
"The one that reveals disguises that either demons or angels use. Id hope it show something but I guess there's nothing dis-"
Jack slid in, grabbing the two. "Guard!" He dove them in a pool of Dust and shuffled them under the shelves. A guard passed by the corridors and once he was gone, he brought them out. "Ok. We should be clear." He went back to the corner.
"Thanks. Lets move onto the next spell." Collin wrote in the next incantation.
They were there for a while, Collin having gone through three more spells with no results, only needing to hide a few more times which made writing harder to do, even needing to fix a few errors which used up more ink in his brush.
Collin let out a sigh. "I'm out of ink and I'm running out of spells I can use."
"Have you thought about mixing spells?" Jack suggested.
"Mixing them?"
"Yeah maybe it takes a combination of two and since you don't know any higher tiers of spells its our best bet."
"He has a point for once." Keenie mentioned handing Collin her brush.
"Tha- Hey!"
"Well its worth a try." Collin thought for a moment. "Ill try that translator spell and the tracer spell." He wrote in the incantations.
"Hurry up, I see a few guards across the hallway!"
"Gimme a moment, writing these aint easy, especially two!"
"Ugh and if I dive us I could mess you up again." He took out his scythe. "Didn't wanna do this but-"
"Jack, are you crazy!?" Keenie grabbed his weapon. "You cant just kill them!"
"What!? Im not gonna kill them! Just knock them out!"
"With your scythe!?"
"I was just gonna hit them with the pole!"
"Wha-!? why wou-!? j-just use your hands dumbass!"
"I'm not gonna crack their necks!"
"Thats not what I-!"
"Holy crap!" Collin exclaimed, close to nearly shouting it.
"Collin shush!"
"Guys Im seeing something!"
"You are!?" Jack said in surprise.
"Its vague but something is definitely there!"
"Can you make it out!?" Keenie asked, flying next to him.
"A little, but not much, like I said, its vague!"
"What can you see?"
"I think I heard something over here!" Jack heard a guard say.
"Oh shit!" He turned to face the two angels, moving to them. "You're gonna have to look later, we gotta- HRGK!" An impulse hit his body, and he felt hot all around, falling to his knees, sweating and panting, hearing the thumping of his heart along with the faint sound of laughter. His Exterminator symbol was glowing. "Not…now!"
"Jack!" Collin and Keenie rushed to his side, concerned.
"You ok?" Keenie asked.
Jack could barely even hear them over the laughter and thumping. "I…I cant…hear."
"Jack you gotta get up! We gotta go before the guards fi-!" A light flashed on them, stopping Collin mid sentence. The two angels looked back.
"What the-!?" Said the guard in shock.
"You ok?" Said the other one approaching.
"I…there's some….freaky monsters here!" The man said uneasily, stepping back.
"Who are you calling freaky!?" Keenie said, offended.
"Stay back!" He pulled his gun.
"Whoa whoa, calm down!" Collin tried to ease things.
The other guard came around. He was five feet tall, lean, pale skinned, and had on the standard night guard uniform. "Whoa."
"Whoa is right! I don't know what the hell I'm looking at but it's like something out of a horror movie!" Said the first guard.
"Excuse me!?" Keenie glared at the man.
"Guys…" Jack panted, regaining himself, turning around.
"Dont move!" The man commanded threatingly with his gun.
"Get ready…to go…I'm gonna try and knock him out." Jack whispered.
"Not in that state!" Collin whispered back.
"Yeah, lemme knock them out." Keenie suggested.
"What are you two whispering about? Clark, go ahead and call the po-" The first man was about to ask his collegue to call the authorities.
"Sorry about this." The other guard took his flashlight and slammed it on the back of his coworkers head, knocking him out cold, catching him.
"Wha- why'd you do that?" Collin asked, confused.
"Yeah I wanted to do that!" Keenie huffed.
"You really have been with Nala too long." Jack sighed.
The other guard laid the first guard against the shelves, turning to face the trio. "...two angels and a demon…not something you see often, especially in a museum…well," He took off his cap, his silver hair flowing freely down his neck, looking at Jack with his bright yellow eyes, "I say demon but…you're actually a human right?"
They all went wide eyed with shock.
"H-how'd you-!?" Jack got up, brandishing his scythe. "Who are you!?"
The man smirked and stretched his arms down beside him. A black spark came above him, circling around the top of his head. From it came a swirl of black light, covering and surrounding the man, enveloping his whole self. After about a second and a half the light faded and where the man once stood was now a white anthropomorphic lion with a thin mane, black wings, and a broken dark halo above his head.
The trios jaw dropped.
"Youre…" Keenie trailed off.
"A fallen angel…" Jack finished.
"Pleasure to meet you." The angel smiled.
End.
Next chapter. Allies.
