Chapter 10, enjoy!

Thanks for the reviews, I love them!

(Don't worry, Margaret,they'll get married soon, not too soon, though...)

WARNING: Death(s)? Gore! and ULTRA DOUCHEBAG MORELLI!

I know, this isn't mine, okay, cool I got it, not mine, not making any money, jeez, we know!

Wake Up

Diesel eyes widened as he looked at the group of demons before him. He had never, never in all of the 200 years he ruled the demon world had a group openly dare to defy the demonic laws that had been written down since the beginning of written history.

"You are really going to do this, you all are going to turn your back on the demon world, and face permanent exile to the human world?" Diesel asked the group who looked stoic at the Demon Lord.

"Yes, our true Lord waits for us," The one demon in front of the group said with a smile, "He will use the power of the one who controls the tree and soon, both the human and demonic world will be a washed and created new."

"The one who controls the tree?" Diesel asked, looking at the group, "What are you going on about?!"

The group leader slid his sleeve down to reveal a mark on his wrist. Diesel peered at the symbol on the wrist and said, softly, "So, this symbol is tied to the tree that you can see on the horizon."

"Indeed it is, and soon, you will bow down and meet your death from it, oh great Demon Lord." The demon said, before the group dissipated in a cloud of smoke.

Diesel turned to Rebecca and asked in a low voice, "How many? How many of our kind have run off to join this fucking cult?!"

"Too many," Rebecca said softly, her eyes hard, "This is not any threat we've dealt with, My Lord, the night walkers are on the move, and as are several other sects, they're searching for the one who controls the tree in the horizon."

"Fuck," Diesel said, leaning against the wall, "Rebecca, we must find the one who controls this fucking invisibale tree, and hopefully make them see what's going on in all the worlds.""

"How do we find them? we don't even know if they truly exist," Rebecca said her voice showing her fear, "For all we know it could be a ploy, started by someone to start a fucking war!"

"It could be, Rebecca, that you're right, that this is just a war in the making, but for now, all we know is that several demons and possibly several other creatures bear that mark, we need to find the creator of that mark and shake them down."

Rebecca sighed and said, "I'll talk to our liaisons in the nightwalker world and the other worlds," walking past Diesel, "Oh, you only have several days-"

"I know, I know…" Diesel said, waving Rebecca off, "I know how may days I have until I need to find a mate!"

"I'm glad you remembered, My Lord," Rebecca said as she left the demon lord to think.

Diesel sighed and said softly, "I guess I should bite the bullet and find a mate….or something…but this tree, and this cult following, it really has me worried."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Scarlet rubbed her tired eyes, looking at the screen in front of her. The demons, the nightwalkers, and several other creatures were making their moves, all to get Heidi. The majority of them are the ones that swore to protect and watch over the poor girl, but many abandoned that oath thanks in part to that man she once called-

Scarlet shook her head and said with a sigh, "Fucking men, why are some of them dogs, why did he have to betray her like that, why did he have to thirst for such forbidden power?"

Scarlet didn't know why, but she had to warn Manoso, she had to tell him who he was watching over. The Suits be damned, she was higher up than those fools, she would confess all to Ranger, she would tell him all about Heidi , and her true identity.

While on the subject of Heidi, Scarlet elaned back in her chair, and thought about the day in the park, thinking about Diesel holding Heidi, and playing around with, for some odd reason, she felt as though she had seen that look of happiness on someone else before, a long time ago, but who?

Scarlet shook her head and then picked her phone up, she dialed the number Ranger had given her and pressed the send button. Ranger picked up the phone in one ring.

"Talk," Ranger said, making Scarlet giggle at the horrible manners the man had on the phone.

"Manoso, it's Scarlet, I must tell you something, but not over the phone, people could be listening, please, meet me at the little café called Little Moon on route one in Pennsylvania, meet me there in three hours."

Ranger was quiet for a moment and then he said, "I'll bring Heidi, Stephanie is going to spend time with her father and grandmother, and I want Heidi close by to me."

"Okay, it's for the best I supposed." Scarlet said, looking up at the screen, "Call me when you're thirty minutes away from the Café."

"I'll be there, Scarlet," Ranger said softly.

"Ranger, be careful, for some odd reason, I sense something ominous is going to happen to you," Scarlet said, before she hung up the phone.

Scarlet gripped her wrist, the one that held the symbol on it and said, "Something ominous indeed, why do I feel this way, now?"

Scarlet got up and walked over to her master bedroom, where Jeanne lay in the bed, sleeping softly. Scarlet shook Jeanne awake and said, "Sexy, wake up, we're meeting Heidi and Ranger for Lunch."

Jeanne groaned and said, turning to Scarlet, "Scarlet, let me sleep some more, okay? You kept me up all night long."

Scarlet smiled leaning forward and kissing Jeanne on her lips, "No sexy, you need to wake up, and get dressed, bring that gun of yours, we're going to need it."

Jeanne sat up looking at Scarlet, "I totally thought we would be just be getting food, not killing people."

Scarlet slid off her robe, and said turning to Jeanne, "We are going to get food, but I have a feeling we'll have to work before we eat."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Ranger looked over to Heidi, who lay on her stomach in the living room, coloring in a coloring book. She had a tongue stuck out in concentration and her eyebrow furrowed as she colored. The little kitten was curled up beside her watching her color. Every now and then, Heidi would point to the kitten and say, "Go big mew kitten!" only to get a tiny mew for a reply and a nuzzle to her chin.

Ranger chuckled watching Heidi pout at the kitten and then go back to coloring. She had been on and on about the little kitten and how it had gotten as big as a cow. Ranger and Stephanie think that Heidi's mind is on over drive. Oh well, he really didn't know, she was now six or seven, and at the that age she was going on and on. She really needed to go to school of some sort, but he had yet to find a solution to that. She could read, no bones about it, and Ella had gotten her educational videos, that she would watch and suck in all that they had like a sponge. Lester had given her books about science, history and even math, and she stormed through them like they were nothing.

Ranger walked over to his child, and said, "Quedria, time to go meet Auntie Jeanne and Scarlet, okay?"

"'Kay!" Heidi said with smile getting up and running to grab her flip flops, "Kitty go mew?"

Ranger looked over to the kitten, who got up and trotted over to the door, "Kitty can go with us."

Ranger held Heidi's hand and the kitten in the other arm, leading the two to the elevator. Heidi looked up to Ranger and said, "I love you Daddy!" hugging Ranger's leg

"I love you too, Quedria." Ranger said, rubbing the top of Heidi's head, "Let's take the Cayenne, yes?

"'Kay!" Heidi said, running over to the Cayenne, "Help me up, Daddy!"

Ranger chuckled and opened the Cayenne and placed Heidi in the booster seat that sat in the back. Ranger gave Heidi the kitten who squealed and hugged the kitten. Ranger slid into the car and drove it out the underground garage of Rangeman. As he drove down the road, Ranger felt as though he was being followed, but, he couldn't see them.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Joe smiled softly, watching the black Cayenne drive out of the underground garage. He would have to do this now. He turned the POS car on and drove behind Ranger, keeping three cars behind him, that way, he wouldn't be caught by the man.

Joe drove for miles, following Manoso. He wondered where Manoso was going, it really didn't matter, he would make it there anyways."

When they were the only two cars on the road, Joe sped up behind the Cayenne. He was going fast on purpose, he was going to make Manoso crash. Joe hit the gas pedal again, tuned the stirring wheel to clip Manoso by the side of his car, doing a pit maneuver. Joe watched as Manoso lost control of the car swerving on the road. He watched Manoso try to get control of the Cayenne, but Joe wasted no time, hitting the Cayenne again, watching as the Cayenne went off into a steep ditch on the side of the road. Joe pulled up on the side of the road close to crash and got out, walking into the ditch. He wasted no time, he opened the door to the cayenne, and yanked a barely conscious Manoso out of the car. He heard a soft cry in the back and saw the child crying softly, holding a hissing kitten to her chest. Joe smirked, taking a Taser out and using it on Ranger, who grunted and fell down hard. Joe tossed the man into the POS car, and then turned to the child. He unbuckled Heidi and yanked her out, but the kitten jump at him. Joe growled and tased the cat, watching it fall twitching periodically. The child screamed and cried for the kitten, as Joe tossed the little girl into the POS car.

Oh yeah, he made a call to the military, telling the General that he had Manoso and the girl, and where they were. He had about a few hours before the military came, he wanted to have some private time with Manoso.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Ranger let out a groan as Morelli tossed him into the back of the car. Fucking Morelli, he should have known. Morelli had been silent for so long, after that dinner, that maybe that Morelli had slithered off to some hole to die. Too bad that hadn't been the case, now he and Heidi were in danger. The moment that the back of the Cayenne had been hit, did his fears had been confirmed, someone was following him, someone had tailed him. He had been on the phone with Scarlet, telling her that he would be at the café soon, when he had been hit the first time. He had to drop the phone to gain control the Cayenne, but the second hit to the car had him spinning out of control and into the ditch. The air bag had deployed and Ranger heard Heidi's screams and sobs in the back, he had to get out of his seat, to get her out of the Cayenne, but the door was wrenched opened and Ranger was jerked out of the car. He looked up and saw Joe smirking down at him, holding a Taser. Ranger felt the Taser jolt him, and Ranger fell down hard. Joe tossed him into the POS car and then Ranger heard Heidi's screams and her yelling, "MEW! MEW!" before he felt her small body be thrown on top of him. Ranger felt the POS car begin to drive off, and Joe was making small talk to someone on a phone.

"General Smith…." Morelli had started, "I got Manoso and the package you wanted, "Three hours, great….I want to have a nice chat with Manoso."

Ranger groaned and felt Heidi hug him tightly, her head buried in his chest, "Daddy…scared Daddy…"

He wanted to hold and comfort the child, but he couldn't he was still going through the motions from being hit with a Taser.

"Manoso, we're going to have a nice long chat before the military comes and takes your brat, for whatever the fuck they want with her."

Ranger groaned softly, having no movement of his body. He had to protect Heidi, he had too!

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Scarlet and Jeanne looked down at Scarlet's cell phone, their faces grim. Jeanne took out her cell phone and speed dialed Diesel, who answered quickly

"Jeanne, Ranger's gone missing, Stephanie got a call from Tank, saying that the tracker on the Cayenne went off the map," Diesel said frantic, "Heidi was with him."

Jeanne inhaled sharply, but Scarlet said, "Diesel, get Stephanie and take her to Rangeman, we'll be there in about a few hour, we're going to get Ranger and Heidi."

"How are you two-" Diesel started, but Scarlet hung up Jeanne's phone. Jeanne looked up at Scarlet, looking in shock at the woman, "Why'd you do that?"

"We're going to get Heidi and Ranger, come with me, Sexy." Scarlet said her face grim, as slid out the booth of the café, "We don't have much time."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"DADDY!" Heidi screamed watching Joe as he punched Ranger in the stomach, causing the man to grunt in pain, blood dribbling from his mouth, "STOP IT! YOU'RE HURTING DADDY!"

They were in a place that Heidi had never been before, a barn of some sort, deep in the woods. Joe had dragged Heidi's father into the barn, and chained him up in the middle of the abandoned barn. Heidi had been dragged in as well, and stuck in a corner. The poor child had been to terrified to move as this bad man made her daddy hurt. She wanted to do something, but, what could she do?!

"Not so tough now, Manoso!" Morelli growled, hitting the chained man again, "You took my cupcake! You took my wife! My wife! She's mine, and once you're dead, I'll get her back."

Ranger chuckled, spitting out blood, "Like she'll come back to you, you slept with her mother." earning another punch to the face.

"DON'T YOU PATRONIZE ME MANOSO!" Morelli roared, kicking the man in the side, "Fucking piece of shit!"

Ranger felt the chains go slack, and he fell to the ground in a heap. From what he could tell, he had several broken ribs, several brusied organs and a broken nose, well, he had worse done to him before, this is nothing new. Ranger turned hearing soft sobs in the corner. Heidi was looking at him, her eyes wide, tears pouring down them.

"It's okay, Quedria, I'll portect you," Ranger said to the child, earning a head shake, "You have to be a big girl, Quedria."

"Daddy!" Heidi sobbed, getting up and going over to the injured man, "Daddy, I'll protect you daddy."

Morelli sneered at the scene before him and said, "How cute! the little brat is going to protect you now! Fuck, look at how big she is now, I bet she's going to be a class a slut when she grows up."

Ranger sat up, and nearly gagged at the gleam in Morelli's eyes, that gleam aimed at his daughter. That piece of shit! Ranger got up and said, spitting out more blood, "Stay away from my daughter, you fucking sicko!"

Ranger hid Heidi behind him, glaring at the man, and wishing he had his knives and guns on him, but Morelli was a smart man, he took off all his weapons, and found all the trackers on him and destroyed them. it was literally just the three of them, backup may never come. If all he could do was kill Morelli before he harmed his child, then that's what he'll do.

"I bet she's going to scream loudly as I fuck her," Morelli said, his eyes on Heidi, "I'll break her, and break your soul while you watch Manoso."

Ranger narrowed his eyes, which were dark with rage. Before he knew what he was doing, he launching himself at Morelli, who smirked and let him rush towards him. Ranger knew he made an error, the moment he got close to Morelli, he had felt the pain from a knife stabbing through flesh and muscle. Ranger's eyes widened and he looked down to see one of his knives deeply embedded in his stomach.

Morelli laughed as Ranger staggered back, gripping the black handle of the knife. He walked over to Ranger and said, grabbing the handle of the knife, "I win, Manoso, I fucking win," pulling the knife out of Ranger, earning a sharp cry from Ranger and Heidi, who sat mere inches from the two men.

"DADDY!" Heidi screamed, going over to Ranger, "Daddy!"

"Quedria." Ranger said as Heidi hugged his arm, his other arm and hand covering the fatal stab wound "You need to run, go and run away."

"No, I'll save you, Daddy," Heidi sobbed, holding the man tightly, "Heidi will save you."

Heidi didn't know what to do, what could she do, to save her daddy! She could feel him dying, but she didn't know how she could stop him from dying! Heidi turned to the evil man in front of hearing him say, "Aww how sweet, but it's too late, sweetie now how about we-"

Heidi screamed as a hand went through, Morelli's chest and a woman slid up behind the man and said in a sweet voice, "How about you die, human, how dare you try to taint this wonderful being."

Heidi watched with Horror as the woman grabbed Joe's neck and tore his head off with ease. She turned to Ranger and shook his body, whimpering, "Daddy, get up, get up, daddy!"

When Ranger didn't move, Heidi shook him again, sobbing, "Daddy, wake up," her voice cracking,sobs choking her.

"Oh dear, he's dead ,little one," The woman said sweetly, walking up to Heidi and Ranger's body, "No matter, humans have no need on the world that we will build."

Heidi looked down at Ranger's still form, her eyes wide, and her mouth slack. Not her daddy, no! she needed him, she needed her daddy! Heidi hugged the body and said, "Daddy…"her small hands reaching down to grab a wrist, "Daddy…"

The woman felt a pulse go through her, and she looked down at her wrist, to see the symbol that was on it light up. She looked over to Heidi and said, "Yes, little one, show me your true powers!"

Heidi could see the white leaves falling around her quickly, like a blizzard, as if cocooning her from the outside world, it was just her and her daddy. She would save her daddy, no matter what. Heidi gripped the wrist tightly and said in a soft voice, "Heidi will save you daddy…"

The woman could only watch as the small child began to glow, the leaves whipping around her, her small hands gripping the limp wrist. The pulse was strong now, and steady, the symbol on her arm was brighter than any artificial light she had ever seen.

"Daddy….." Heidi whispered her eyes closed, before they snapped opened,"Wake up!"

It was an instant reaction. Ranger's lifted his head and let out a sharp breath of air. He let out a cry as he felt broken bones, damaged organs and the fatal stab wound heal itself, what was going on? Once the pain of healing past, Ranger leaned back against the barn wall breathing harshly. With shaking hands, he wrapped them around Heidi, who squealed out, "Daddy's awake!" and hugged him tightly.

"Heidi?" Ranger asked, looking down at the child.

"Aww what a wonderful reunion, too bad it's short lived, human, but now, you must die!" The woman said, baring lethal teeth and clawed fingers.

"Over my dead body!" A voice said from the entrance of the barn, "Die bitch!"

The woman let out a cry, as a bullet went right between her eyes. She staggered back, like a puppet that had its strings cut, before she fell to the ground, her body turning into ashes as it fell. Jeanne let out a sigh, and holstered her gun. She turned to Scarlet and the kitten in the woman's hands and said, "You were right, the cat did know where Heidi and Ranger were."

Scarlet smiled and said, "I knew he did, they do have a connection," before she walked over to Ranger and Heidi, "Are you two okay?"

"I'm fine, so is Heidi, Morelli isn't though," Ranger said, getting up to his feet, holding Heidi tightly to him.

"Hmm, looks like The Queen of the Nightwalkers got to him, we need to leave now, that bullet to the brain won't keep as ashes for long, and the military is on the move" Scarlet said to the group, "Come on, I think we all could use a strong drink."

Jeanne sneered down at Joe's body and said, "Too fucking bad, I couldn't have killed the bastard," walking out the barn.

Scarlet rubbed Heidi's back, and led Ranger and Heidi out the barn and into the woods. Ranger smiled and looked down at his daughter, who had fallen asleep. He rubbed her back, but winced in pain as something raw on his wrist rubbed the material of her shirt. Ranger lifted his wrist up and noted with uneasiness that he had a symbol on his wrist. It was a circle made of thorns and white flowers, and in the circle was a woman on a cross of thorns.

Odd, where did this marking come from? Ranger didn't know what happened after he was stabbed, all he could remember was floating in darkness and then leaves, white leaves blowing around his floating form. He kept hearing someone call out for him saying, "Daddy, wake up, Daddy…" and then a woman appeared. The funny thing about was that the beautiful woman who appeared, looked just like Heidi. It couldn't have been Heidi who embraced him in his dreams, she's just a child.

Just a child…

Ranger paused in his walking to watch as a few white leaves fell down from the sky. Odd, there were no trees around here with white leaves such as that...

TBC…..

If you could, please, spare a girl a moment of your time and review, I love feedback and comments from the readers! thank you!