"Don't summon demons in the house."
For most people, that would have gone without saying, house or otherwise. Not for my family, no. Maybe I'm finally getting used to the whole 'sold my soul to the devil and all I got was this lousy t-shirt' thing, but honestly, when Jeanne said it was one of the rules of Chateau Hebert, I accepted it as a reasonable and thoughtful rule.
You know, I'm not sure what will phase me anymore. Is that weird?
Anyway, initially I had thought she meant Madama Butterfly, since she was, well, rather large, but my mom had been able to summon multiple demons, which meant I should be able to too. A little digging while Jeanne had been out of the house had eventually led me to her collection of tomes and grimoires.
Which was why I was sneaking around the boat graveyard after dark with a pail of chalk.
My boots, with a short heel on Jeanne's insistence, sank into the wet terrain every few steps I took. I probably should have been back home either helping to prep for the housewarming party tomorrow, but I'd begged off early to rest up for this. It helped that Jeanne had to take care of some errand for whatever her new job was. Dad hadn't noticed a thing when I snuck out. I suppose I could thank Emma for making me so skilled in avoiding other people's attention. I glanced around me, more out of habit than any actual worry, then leapt up the twelve feet of a rusting barge.
Magic-fueled super-strength? Totally loving that.
I set the pail down next to the railing and grabbed out a piece of chalk. Thankfully the ship I'd chosen had a level deck for me to mark out the summoning circle with. The book I'd borrowed from Aunt Jeanne's collection had been rather graphic with its descriptions of what happened to summoners who screwed up their circles, and I did not want to be one of them.
Eyeing the deck carefully, I set to work, starting with the outside circle and working in from there. Some of the smaller runes weren't the easiest to remember, but thankfully I'd had the presence of mind to copy them down on some scrap paper. They'd gotten a bit scrunched in my pocket, but they were still legible.
Despite the cool night air I was sweating by the time I finished. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, no doubt leaving behind a smear from the chalk dust that seemed to cover me. Now, all that was left was to actually do the summons.
I tried to replicate the feeling from when I'd summoned Madama Butterfly, letting the magic flow through me and into the circle. I fought to keep control, using as little magic as possible despite how much it wanted to be used. Whatever came through I wanted to be as weak as possible. A crackling whirlpool of energy slowly began to spiral out from the center until it filled the circle.
I gasped as the circle suddenly began to swell in time with a tremendous pull on my reserves. The portal pulsed in time with my breaths before expanding far beyond the edge of the circle. I scrambled backwards to keep it from touching me as I tried desperately to stop the flow of magic.
The blood in my veins froze as the demon forced its way out of the depths of Hell.
Most of the demon's body remained on the other side of the portal, but even so it looked like it might dwarf a good number of the ships around us. It's head, glistening black like a carrion Crow, rested on two immense wolf-like paws crossed under its chin. From the back of its neck down it was covered with segmented armor plates that reflected the evening sun. The demon opened its mouth to speak and I flinched at the rows of razor sharp teeth and the faint hint of flame that filled its maw. A word, no a name, fitting the description within some book I once read, flashed through my mind.
Amon.
Well well. Unlike Madama Butterfly, his voice was guttural and hurt my ears to listen to. If it isn't the young Witch-child. You're a cocky brat, summoning me. I'm not sure what's more impressive, your potential or your stupidity.
"You're not killing me then?" I asked, after which I immediately slapped a hand over my mouth. I scrambled to my feet when he didn't immediately respond.
Please, you're hardly worth the energy. Maybe in a few years when you have time to grow up and... fill out a bit. I blinked before putting my hands my hips and glaring at him. Here I was scared that he'd devour my soul, and he was mocking me? He cocked his head to the side, a disturbingly bird-like motion, and the metal around his crinkled into something reminiscent of a smile. You got moxy kid, I like that.
"What?" I stared at him incredulously. I shifted my feet and glanced over to the railing. I hadn't seen him move, but with his bulk and all those metal plates I was fairly certain I could outrun him. I hope.
The demon laughed again as his eyes studied me. Oh I definitely like you. Normally I'd give you the whole spiel, but your family history is far more valuable than what I usually offer. So I'll tell you what, you survive the next couple of hours and maybe -maybe- I'll consider signing on with you.
That did not sound good. "Survive what? Did you do something?"
An old friend let loose the hunting dogs for you. I'd say they're more than an adequate challenge. He grinned again as I felt dread coil itself into a cold knot at the bottom of my gut. All I did was gave them your scent.
A great howl sounded across the bay as my head whipped towards the city. A shiver ran down my spine as second howl, then a third, joined the first. "What the hell is that?"
Faster than I expected. He turned his head and grinned at me. I'd start running. Oh, and good luck kid, you're gonna need it.
Amon cackled as he let the magic keeping him summoned unravel, returning him back to Inferno. I stood there for a few moments as I tried to fully take in just how much I had fucked up. Dad was so gonna kill me - or ground me for life. And I didn't even want to imagine what Jeanne would do to punish me... More howls filled the air as I shoved those thoughts away for later. Punishment wouldn't matter if whatever was hunting me killed me first.
I hurtled over the side of the ship and hit the ground running flat out. My feet didn't have time to sink at all as practically skimmed across the sand, then I was into the city. The ships were replaced by the lights and dilapidated buildings of the docks, all passing in a blur as I dashed through the streets. A few faces, out despite the late hour, caught my flight. Another howl sounded, far too close for comfort. More magic was pushed into my legs and I forced myself to go faster. As I reached an intersection, I grabbed a lamppost and used it to slingshot my body around the corner, only to come to a screeching halt.
Well, guess I figured out why Amon said good luck.
A pair of immense hounds, black as midnight with eyes like burning coals, blockaded the road. Each one was larger than a minivan, their muscles rippling cords of steel cables moving beneath their fur. For a moment we just stood there, hunter and hunted met at last. I could feel it, deep in some primal part of myself, that I couldn't hope to escape them, not now that they'd found me. A bead of sweat dripped into my eye and in the moment I blinked the Hounds surged into motion.
They moved with a speed that seemed completely at odds to their bulk. One charged straight towards me while the other circled around the intersection. I tried splitting my attention to make sure I wasn't caught off guard and I nearly stumbled as I backed into the lamppost. The first Hound roared as it took advantage of my distraction to leap at me.
Teeth the size of my arm passed by my head as I sidestepped out of the Hound's trajectory. The sound of my watch filled my mind as the world slowed down around me. Without a thought I gripped the lamppost and tore it out of the ground. I twirled it over my head before smashing it into the Hound's side.
The beast careened into a parked car, crushing the side of and spraying glass all over the sidewalk, and I winced as an alarm went off. Ooh, I hope they had insurance. The Hound gave a shake of its head as it stepped clear of the wreckage, shards of glass glinting in its fur but otherwise unharmed.
I spun the lightpost around before sticking under my armpit like I'd seen done with a staff in a martial arts movie. I eyed the two Hounds and they gazed back. I could feel my concentration starting to waver and knew I only had a few moments left to exploit the slowed down time.
Ah fuck it.
I stepped towards the second Hound as time began to move at its normal pace again, dropping low to the ground as I swung out with the lamppost. Just as I'd hoped, it jumped over it, which meant it was almost defenseless as I suddenly cut upwards, hooking the lamppost underneath its legs. I could feel the strain as continued to carry it through the arc I'd starting, lifting the Hound overhead before slamming it down onto the pavement next to its friend.
The first Hound charged me again while the second recovered. I jabbed at it with the lamppost, blinking as I heard a loud crunch and it suddenly became much lighter. I glanced at the now much shorter weapon before dropping it. Again the Hound tried leaping at me, but this time I ducked underneath it.
As it passed me, I reached out and grabbed it by the tail. Planting my feet, I spun around like I was doing hammer toss, until I couldn't hold on anymore and the Hound went flying into a nearby convenience store. I was still grinning as the second Hound slammed into me from behind.
I tumbled head over heels for a couple meters before coming to a halt against a parked car. "Okay," I muttered as I got to my feet, "that hurt." It did, not seriously, but it still hurt. It was more infuriating than painful. I narrowed my eyes before turning and grabbing the car I'd collided with.
"Why don't you try this on for size!" I turned and hurled the car at the Hound, my impromptu missile actually appearing to catch the best off guard.
Then it caught the car in its jaws midair and bit it in half. The Hound shook its head and the two halves of the car went flying. I had to duck as one sailed over my head. Man, they were such total bullshit. Once again we were at an impasse as the Hounds and I began another staredown.
"Hey now, watch where you're throwing those things. Somebody might get hurt." I blinked as a somewhat familiar voice broke the tension. I turned to see the bartender from the Gates of Hell, Rodin, standing beside one half of the car. Which looked like it had gained another large dent. The hell was he doing here? He was going to get himself killed by the...
What the bloody fucking hell?
I could feel my eyes getting wider as the Hounds whimpered and backed away from the admittedly intimidating bartender. He continued to glare at them until they had given the two of us plenty of room. "Heh, good dogs." He grinned before turning to look at me. "Sorry I'm late, but I had a little rust to work out. Catch!"
Just like with Jeanne I reacted on instinct, snatching the thrown blurs out of the air and slotting them into place like they were puzzle pieces. One for each of my boots and one for each hand, I blinked and stared at the massive revolvers in surprise. Each gun had a gold relief of a bird in flight; an eagle and falcon for the revolvers attached to my boots, and a raven and owl for the ones in my hands. They weighed a ton and there was something more than just a physical heaviness about them.
"Samain Night," Rodin said proudly as I continued to examine the revolvers. "My finest work yet. Made from the closest thing to a family legacy you had. Now why don't you show these boys who's the real top dog."
I was fairly certain my jaw had dropped open. "Wait, you're not going to stay and help?"
"Fuck no." He laughed as he pulled out a cigar. I blinked as his thumb spontaneously ignited with purple flames. "I just make the weapons. Everything else, well that's all on you."
"Fat lot of good you are." I winced but Rodin just chuckled. Good, didn't want to offend the man capable of scaring off the two demon dogs.
"You really are a chip off the old block. Come find me when you need a new tool." A dark haze began to rise up from the ground around him. "Just remember, it's cash only, and I always get my due."
The haze enshrouded him completely and when it cleared he was gone. Leaving me alone with two homicidal, and likely supernatural, dogs that wanted nothing more than to kill me. Now, how would my mother handle this?
I rolled my shoulders and brought my new guns to bear with a grin. "Let's see if you bad dogs can play dead." I grimaced and made a mental note to work on my banter. Somehow I got the feeling that this wouldn't be the last time I got into a situation like this.
The two Hounds charged as one and I thought about it no more.