Devil of the Streets

Chapter 2

My eyes opened slowly and I ran my hands through my greasy, nappy, hair. I saw the cloudless blue sky above me and the refreshing morning breeze brushed across my face. Smiling, I sat up and looked at my surroundings. No morning frost or snow today, that's a plus.

I stood up on my hobo blanket and stretched. My back wasn't sore today; I've gotten use to sleeping on the ground. I looked around to make sure my few possessions hadn't been stolen in the night.

"Mirror, money pouch, card deck, jacket, beanie, yep that's it." I ran through my check list and smiled. Picking up my card deck I sat back down on the blanket and ran my finger through the cards. I couldn't exactly tell, but it seemed to be about nine or ten in the morning based off the crowds around me. No one really comes to my part of town until late at night.

"Well I should probably go ahead and make my runs. Wonder if Morin has any jobs today." I muttered to myself as I gathered my bags and sit off down the street. I came to the end of my prowling grounds and pulled my thin hood over my greasy black hair. Man a shower would be so nice right now.

I patted around my pockets as I walked. Money in the right jeans pocket, cards on the inside of my jacket, and my drug pocket is empty, for now. I continued walking for a few minutes, passing several of my sleeping homeless friends. I saw the five kids from last night lying in an alleyway, surrounding a burger from McDonalds. I smiled at them and kept walking. Hero to the poor, enemy to the rich. I'm like a demonic Robin Hood.

I reached the dark, sketchy alleyway where my dealer lives and knocked five times on the door. I heard two locks slide out of their holds and the door cracked open. Two paranoid looking eyes popped appeared in the black crack and they darted back and forth as they examined me.

"Hey Jarrod, what's up man? You got anything for me to deliver today?" I asked and the eyes disappeared. I heard more locks undo themselves and the door swung back open.

"If it isn't my little runner Jamey, come in my boy." A kind raspy voice said as the door opened to reveal a twenty six year drug dealer. He had grey streaks running through his dark brown hair and his eyes were bloodshot. All he had on was a grease covered white t-shirt and sweatpants. He really was a pathetic sight, but he was a good guy. I followed him to the back room where he kept his packages concealed in small potted plants. He dug his hand into a rose bush and threw me a small white package.

"Where does it go to man?" I asked and he pulled out his phone, checking for the buyer's location.

"A few blocks from here. Just go down the alleyway, take a left and keep walking until you see a red brick house. Go down the alley on the left side and the buyer will be waiting for you. Ask for LT, or whatever his dumb, "gangster" name is." Jarrod explained and I smiled.

"Sounds easy enough. I'll bring you half later, just like always." I said and he waved at me. We both walked out of his package room and he took a seat in his dusty recliner. I watched him grab a box of old take out as I walked towards the door.

"See ya later James. You're a hero my friend!" He called after me as I left. I walked down the alley way and stuffed the small package into my dark black beanie. I walked down the street, swinging the beanie around like it was nothing.

Now, this may not be the best way to smuggle weed but cops didn't usually question me. It's probably because I use the whole "devil mind trick thing" on them whenever they get close. Dumb mortals, they'll never catch me. And that's why my smuggling rate is so high. I've never had a single close call. It even helps to get me beer and stuff like that.

And a homeless seventeen year old that drinks constantly is pretty suspicious to begin with. This whole mind trick thing comes in handy on tons of people. Like when people ask me why I'm not in school or how I got a whole Vodka bottle or other dumb stuff like that. Side note: I can drink really well, even as far as devils go.

I got about a middle school education and that's about it. I was in the eighth grade when my parents died and I had nowhere else to go. I dropped out of school and started begging for money on the street. I moved around a lot back then, didn't want to get caught by child services or something like that. I was in L.A. when I meet…her.

Elizabeth took me in and made me her servant. She took really good care of me, but not like a mother would have. She wasn't anywhere near a mother figure, she was just another lonely kid on her own. I was the only servant she ever had before she died. I was about eleven when I ended up on the streets, and then four years with her, and now I've been living on the streets for about two years. It's a nice living, I just hope some of the higher ups never find me.

I reached the red brick house that Jarrod described to me and went down the alley. I saw four big guys sitting by a fire that shot out of a small tin barrel. I sighed, hopefully this goes okay.

"Is LT here, I got your package man." I said and one of the guys on the left walked towards me. He was a pretty fat white guy with short blonde hair. He looked awful, even for a druggy gangster.

"Is this the stuff Jarrod sent me?" He asked and I started to laugh. This is one dumb gangster, no one actually asks if it is the "stuff." How has he not been arrested yet?

"Yes it is my man. But you may want to be more discrete next time, you're lucky I ain't a cop." I said and pulled the package out of hat. He pulled out eighty dollars, not gonna ask how he got it, and we made the transaction.

"Pleasure doin business with ya." I said and bowed. He walked back to his friends and I exited the alleyway smiling. I looked across the street and saw two men in business suits looking at me. I held up two fingers and made a half circle in front of me face.

"This is not the drug deal you are looking for. Move alone a rethink your lives." I muttered and both guys immediately looked away from me. Yeah I'm homeless, doesn't mean I haven't seen Star Wars.

I walked back towards my prowling grounds, but stopped halfway and entered another run down looking building. It was a small bar for the criminal population of the city. I don't normally hang out here but I pop in every now and then. I walked through the small hallway that lead to the basement and the actual bar.

"Yo does anyone know where Morin is?" I called and the tough looking biker guys at the bar turned to look at me. As soon as the men at the bar saw who I was, they waved and turned back to their drinks. However, the thugs by the pool table put down their poles and started walking towards me. Two of them even pulled out their guns. Must be new guys, haven't seen them around here before.

"Whatcha doin in here white boy?" One of them asked and got super close to me. There were about six of them, easy.

"I'm looking for the guy who runs contracts here. What you doin here? Playing pool with your boyfriends? I don't think you know what gang bang means buddy." I retored and he pushed me against the wall.

"What you just say to me boy? We gonna have to teach you a lesson bout respect?" He said and put a small knife to my throat. I just giggled slightly and noticed the bikers hadn't even turned around to look. They knew what was going to happen…

"How about I show you a magic trick first?" I said and smiled at him. His face went from hostile to curious and I seized the moment. I kicked him in the knee and punched him in the face. He sprawled back and his friends caught him.

"Now gentlemen, I have a question for you." I said as two of the thugs ran at me. One slashed at my head with a knife and I ducked under it. I used a bit of magic and a Spades card appeared in my right hand. I crushed it in fist and my hands turned to rock.

The other gangster ran at me full on and tried to punch me. I grabbed his fist with my left hand and swung him around. He flew through the air and slammed against a table across the room. The guy with the knife came for another swipe and I just held out my other arm. He slashed right through my arm and sparks went flying from his knife.

"What…what are you?" He asked, bewildered. I smirked and kicked his legs out from under him. As he fell, I grabbed him and threw him back into the air above my head. On his second descent I channeled the earth magic into my right leg and delivered a power kick right into his chest. He flew back a few feet and slammed into a pole, almost breaking it in half.

"Yo boss, we gotta get out of here!" One of the thugs yelled as he ran up next to the guy who had started the fight.

"Yeah man! This guys on something crazy, did you see what he did to em?" Another one yelled as he, and two others, ran up the stairs and out of the bar.

"Better listen to your friends, boss." I teased and undid the earth magic and recreated the card. The five of Spades reappeared in my right hand and I held it up in front of the gang leader.

"But before you go I have one question. Is this your card?" I asked and smiled at him. He just buckled back and started to run out of the bar. I looked forward and saw the bikers at the bar laughing at the gangbangers and I smiled.

"Glad you boys enjoyed the show. I'm guessing Morin is in the back then?" I asked and the old, white bearded, men nodded at me. I waved in reply and walked through the back door.

I entered a small, collage sized, room. The only furniture was a small bed on one wall and a desk with a TV on the other. Lying on the bed was my good friend, Morin. He was a middle aged man who served in the army at some point. He had a long white beard like all the bikers in the bar and short white hair too. He was a fairly big guy and could toss a whole keg around with ease.

"Yo Morin, wake up you old drunk!" I yelled and the old man flew up. He was startled for a few moments before realizing it was me. He jumped off the bed and threw his arms around me.

"Jamey boy! How are ya kid?" He asked and held me at arm's length.

"I'm pretty good. Making pretty good money as of now. How about you?" I asked and smiled up at the big old man.

"The bar is doing pretty good and the crime rate is down. By the way what was that raucous out there a minute ago?" He asked and looked at me accusingly. I started to laughed and patted his shoulder.

"I was just taking out the trash for ya man. No need to get your panties in a bunch." I said and nodded at the man who was only in a pair of boxers. Note to self: don't wake up single old people, the will always be half naked.

"Well I appreciate that." He said and laughed heartily at me as he patted my head and took a seat back on his bed.

"So what can I do for you?" He asked and I leaned against the closed wooden door.

"You got any jobs for me?" I asked and pulled my deck of cards out. I riffled through them as the old man contemplated whether he had any contracts that needed completing.

"I actually believe there aren't any more this week. Some of the others have already taken care of it." He said and I sighed. I wanted to kill someone today! No fair.

"Well then I guess I'll be leaving. See ya around Morin." I said and began to open the door.

"Wait kid, why don't you take this. A little thank you for taking out the trash." He said and tossed me a big liquor bottle.

"Jack Daniels?" I said and popped open the top. I tilted my head back and gulped some down.

"Whoa man! This stuff is pretty nice. Thanks Morin!" I exclaimed and waved at the old man.

"Now I don't want the cops showing up and telling me I'm under arrest for giving liquor to minors." He said jokingly and I just waved as I stepped out of the door.

I walked back up the stairs and out onto the strip. It was about one or two and I thought it was about time to head home and count today's earnings. I'll just pay Jarrod back tomorrow, or maybe I won't. I giggled to myself and walked back home.

About halfway between the bar and my prowling grounds I stopped dead in my tracks and saw a huge black limo going up the street. It was pretty rare that rich people drive through this part of town, but that's not what made me stop. The family crest on the front of the car made me stop.

"That's a devil family…that's…time to go!" I muttered to myself and took off running down the street. I looked over my shoulder, and to my horror the limo was pulling into a parking spot. I ducked into an alleyway and peered out onto the sidewalk. This is not good, did they find me?

I saw two wealthy looking men step out of the car, each in suits. One was a long haired blonde and the other had short dark red hair. They stood side by side, right in front of the car's passenger door. All of a sudden, a tall man with a bright blue suit stepped out of the car and pulled a cane out the car behind him. He and his two body guards started to make their way down the street, towards me.

"Not good, not good…where do I go? Could I make it down the street?" I peered down the sidewalk and thought about making a run for it. I looked back down the alley and saw a huge picket fence that blocked me from getting to the other side. Maybe I could jump it…

I peered out one more time and panicked. The devils were even closer now…what if they find me? They defiantly sensed that I was a stray, so that means…they're gonna kill me. I leaned against the wall and sighed. Well, I had a good run. But I'm gonna at least give them a little challenge. I sunk a bit deeper into the alley and waited for the devils to show up. I pulled out my deck and slid the cards down my jacket sleeves. I channeled some magic and had the cards floating around my body, underneath my clothes. Let's fight devils…

"I believe it went this way sir." I heard a gruff voice say and the next thing I knew, the two body guards walked into the alley.

"Well well well, if it isn't some upper class puppet. Come to take me out? I have done nothing wrong and you're not getting me without a fight." I declared and took a fighting stance, bringing my fists up.

"How dare you speak to the Master that way Stray! You will not even get to see his face, you will be fighting us." The blonde haired guard replied in a gruff voice. He and his companion pulled off their spots jackets and tossed them to the side. Two huge, jacked, body guards vs. me. Not good…

"Let me guess, Rooks?" I asked and the red haired one nodded. I sighed and pulled out two cards. Eleven of Spades and eleven of Hearts, this may go okay…probably not.

"Well then gentlemen, you now face the stray devil James Thanatos. Ex-Queen of the devil Elizabeth and the King bum of New York City. Come on then." I said and the red haired one moved as soon as I finished.

I smashed my fists together and a huge amount of magic flew through me. Fire and earth, together. The red haired guard jabbed at me and I blocked with my rock covered arm. Another jab at my face, I turned my face to stone. It still knocked me back and I stumbled a bit. I wiped my check and smirked.

"Thank you sir, may I have another." I jeered and lit my right arm on fire. I jumped into the air and brought my fist down on the guards block. We were locked in place for a few moments before I brought me feet up and kicked off his block. I soared through the air and landed on the picket fence behind me.

"Well gentlemen that was a nice attempt. But, I fear that I must bid you ado. Say farewell to the Master for me." I teased and shot a huge blast of fire at their feet. The red haired one jumped back and kept the same stone expression on his face. Rooks are no fun…

"I don't think we are done just yet Stray." He said and his blonde friend jumped on his back and leapt at me.

"Oh…not good." I said and jumped back to avoid the colossal smash that was about to wreck me. The blonde guards slammed into the picket fence and busted it into pieces as I landed a few feet away.

I took off running down the alley and shot a few fireballs back to try and distract them. They just brushed them off and ran after me at full speed, faster and faster with each blast they deflected. I gotta get out of here, and fast.

I reached the end of the alley way and decided to stop them there. I slid on the ground and ran my right hand across the dirty earth. I channeled some magic into the ground around the entryway to the alley and the ground sprang up behind me. A huge, spiked barrier separated me from my pursuers and I flew down the street.

I smiled when I saw my blanket in the distance and started to sprint a bit faster. I thought I'd won, but then I heard the sound of earth being smashed. I looked over my shoulder and saw the huge guards slowly walking out of a dust cloud.

"Oh come on!" I yelled and decided to switch it up a bit. I undid the earth magic and the Spades card reappeared in my hand. I sent it back down my sleeve and pulled out my twelve of Diamonds. Ice magic time.

I reached my blanket, grabbed my mirror and the blanket, and continued to run. I was planning to reach the more populated part of town, lose them in a crowd, and make my way of town. I have to get out of New York go somewhere where they won't find me.

"Okay you spoiled pets. Let's see ya catch me now!" I yelled at them and held out my right hand. A huge force of ice shot out and I started to slid on the small walkway I was making. I brought my hand up a bit and I took off on a small rail of pale blue ice. I went up about twenty feet before landing on top of one of the apartment buildings. I jumped off the ice rail and fell to my knees on the roof top.

"Okay I need a new plan. I can't mortals involved with this. I can't beat these guys on my own. So…I run, skip town, and go to a safe place." I nodded at my new plan and took off across the roof top. When I reached the end, I shot flames out of my feet to give me an extra boost. I soared through the air and jumped from roof top to roof top like this.

I ran like this for a few hours before I reached the edge of the city. I looked down and saw a river below me. I looked back to make sure the two Rooks still weren't following me and took a deep breath.

"This may or may not suck." I told myself and jumped off the building. I fell through the air and held out my right hand. An Ice rail formed under me and it carried me safely to the water below. From there I froze the water underneath me as I went, traveling at fast speeds across the river and out to the bay.

They found me, which means I can't live there anymore. They may have only gotten a glimpse of me, but they'd find me. Sooner or later they'd find me. Living in New York was pretty stupid and dangerous anyway. Elizabeth always told me it was crawling with devils away on business. So I should go to a place with no devils…but where is that? I tried to think back to the least devil populated country that Elizabeth told me about. I think she said the only place devils didn't usually go was…Japan.

"Yeah, Japan sounds fun! They have good music and food and media there! So I'll just go to D.C. use my drug money to buy a ticket and fly to Japan. It's the only lead I have as of now, so it's as good an option as any." I reasoned and nodded at my conclusion.

I continued skating on the frozen water and traveled south, to the capital of the Western World. And from there…to Japan.